Sentence Correction

In July 1965 Mariner IV passed by Mars and took the first-ever close-up photographs of another planet, which showed that the Martian surface was like that of the Moon's in that it was pockmarked by moonlike craters and was dry and apparently dead.

(A) which showed that the Martian surface was like that of the Moon's in that it was pockmarked by moonlike craters and was dry and apparently dead

(B) which showed a dry, apparently dead Martian surface, and it was pockmarked by craters like the Moon has

(C) which showed the Martian surface as a dry, apparently dead one, which was pockmarked with craters such as the Moon's

(D) photos showing the Martian surface to be like that of the Moon's, dry and apparently dead, and it was pockmarked by moonlike craters

(E) photos that showed a dry, apparently dead Martian surface pockmarked with craters like those on the Moon

Modifiers are tested along with parallel structures in comparisons. There are 4 broad ways that modifiers are introduced on the GMAT: (1) by a relative pronoun (which, who, when...), (2) by an adjective or past participle (-ed form of verb), (3) by a present participle (-ing form of verb), or (4) by a noun.

(1) & (2) are best when the target of the modification is the noun or phrase just on the other side of the comma

(3) & (4) are best when the modifier is meant to describe the entire action on the other side of the comma, or a noun deep inside that clause.

The full solution below is taken from the GMATFix App.



-Patrick