Sentence Correction

[spoiler]In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, which more than doubled the country's size and that brought [/spoiler]its western border within reach of the Pacific Ocean.

A. In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, which more than doubled the country's size and that brought
B. For about four cents an acre the United States acquired, in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, 828,000 square miles, more than doubling the country's size and it brought
C. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, more than doubling its size and bringing
D. The United States, in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, for about four cents an acre, acquired 828,000 square miles, more than doubling the country's size, bringing
E. Acquiring 828,000 square miles in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States bought it for about four cents an acre, more than doubling the country's size and bringing
[spoiler]Answer:C/A[/spoiler]

IMO C. A is wrong because there is antecedent ambiguity with "which"; the way it written, "which" refers to acres.

IMO A is correct, though with doubts

C) more than doubling its size and bringing
isn't its ambiguous
do doubling and bringing have to be parallel.

I check grammar before meaning logic because grammar error can be realized mechanically and easily. Error of meaning logic is more difficult. However, grammar error and meaning error are integrated many times.

"doubling and bringing" must be parallel structurally and logically and need "and". A, B, and D are out

"which" in A has no logic referent.

"acquire ...for..."in C is more concise than "acquiring... it bought..." in E

IMO A

IMO C.

what does "that" in A refer to ?. doubling and bringing happened at the same time, so both of 'em should be parallel.

C is the correct answer.

The meaning of the sentence conveys that the result of the purchase was two fold... (to double the size) and (to bring borders).
The results must be expressed in parallel form and the modifiers should be placed correctly.

A - which modifies acres incorrectly, it should modify the purchase.
B - doubling and it brought is not parallel.
C - correct answer the result of the purchase is expressed in a concise manner and both items are parallel.
D - Aside from it being a bit wordy and awkard ... I believe there is a meaning error in this. the doubling of the size did not bring anything. Both results must be expressed using "and"
E - Another meaning error, although the result is parallel, the pronoun IT has no logical referrent - the U.S. bought land not the Louisiana purchase.

Hope it clears doubts.

GMAT prep ques..

A and C have differnet meanings

A : is incorrect... its a tense issue...


i think there is a similar question in OG.... something like: 35 birds flew, bringing the number to xxxx

this question is in that format.


C : is correct for the OG reason i mentioned.

brick2009 wrote:GMAT prep ques..

A and C have differnet meanings

A : is incorrect... its a tense issue...


i think there is a similar question in OG.... something like: 35 birds flew, bringing the number to xxxx

this question is in that format.


C : is correct for the OG reason i mentioned.

guys
Is option E redundant because " of Acquiring and brought "
both have the same meaning ?

anabbasi wrote:IMO A is correct, though with doubts

C) more than doubling its size and bringing
isn't its ambiguous
do doubling and bringing have to be parallel.

its here refers to "the United States" what else could it refer to... C is correct!!

Agree C is correct and D is wrong. But, I wish to comment on D.

D can be wrong for the other error. but I wish to comment on the following error

There are 2 modifier " in the Louisianan purchase..." and " for about fore cent..." . Of course, these two modifier modify the verb "acquired". These two modifier sit together. Is this good or bad. Is these two modifiers need "and". Any one know about this thing. Please, speak.

FINAL SOLUTION AT ONE PLACE:

In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, which more than doubled the country's size and that brought its western border within reach of the Pacific Ocean.
(A) In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, which more than doubled the country's size and that brought
(B) For about four cents an acre the United States acquired, in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, 828,000 square miles, more than doubling the country's size and it brought
(C) With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles for about four cents an acre, more than doubling its size and bringing
(D) The United States, in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, for about four cents an acre, acquired 828,000 square miles, more than doubling the country's size, bringing
(E) Acquiring 828,000 square miles in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States bought it for about four cents an acre, more than doubling the country's size and bringing

Explanation:

As the sentence implies, the purchase / acquisition of the land resulted in the doubling of the size, so there is a direct cause and effect relationship. We must use 'verb-ing' for the effect. So the two words should be 'doubling' and bringing. This eliminates A and B.

C. Correct

D. As there are two effects, there must be the word 'and' between them ... so 'and bringing' should be used. Moreover the sentence is extremely awkward.

E. The word 'Louisiana' in 'the Louisiana Purchase of 1803' functions as an adjective. The pronoun 'it' mistakenly refers to the adjective 'Louisiana'. As pronouns can refer back only to nouns, this choice is wrong.