Uva@90 wrote:
This concludes that 'WHICH' should always preceded by noun + {comma}.
In other words, other modifiers should not come in between noun and 'WHICH'.
Is my conclusion correct ?
Here is the complete question:
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle other stars.
A) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
B) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
C) most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling
D) mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
E) mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling
In A, B and E,
as large must be followed by another
as.
Correct idiom:
X is as large as Y.
Eliminate A, B and E.
D:
mostly at least as large as Jupiter
Here,
MOSTLY as large as Jupiter implies
ALMOST as large as Jupiter, while
AT LEAST as large as Jupiter implies
AS LARGE AS Jupiter or LARGER THAN Jupiter.
Since the two meanings contradict each other, eliminate D.
The correct answer is
C.
D:
more than 80 massive planets, mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle other stars
Here, the only viable antecedent for
which circle (
which + plural verb) is
planets (the nearest preceding plural noun).
The structure here is as follows:
INTENDED ANTECEDENT FOR
WHICH +
COMMA + MODIFYING PHRASE + COMMA +
which.
An OA on the GMAT will not insert the structure in red -- COMMA + MODIFYING PHRASE + COMMA -- between
which and its intended antecedent.
Eliminate D.
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