Sentence Correction

A firm that specializes in the analysis of handwriting claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess more than three hundred personality traits, including enthusiasm, imagination, and ambition.

(A) from a one-page writing sample that it can assess
(B) from a one-page writing sample it has the ability of assessing
(C) the ability, from a one-page writing sample, of assessing
(D) to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess
(E) being able to assess, from a one-page writing sample,

OA : D

@ Experts - I'd seek some clarity on the EXACT function of the PHRASE - from a one-page writing sample - in the OA ? And with reference to this query, how A is DIFFERENT from OA ?

The key here is the use of the preposition 'from'. A makes is sound as the claims are from the writing sample.

RBBmba@2014 wrote:A firm that specializes in the analysis of handwriting claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess more than three hundred personality traits, including enthusiasm, imagination, and ambition.

(A) from a one-page writing sample that it can assess
(B) from a one-page writing sample it has the ability of assessing
(C) the ability, from a one-page writing sample, of assessing
(D) to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess
(E) being able to assess, from a one-page writing sample,

OA : D

@ Experts - I'd seek some clarity on the EXACT function of the PHRASE - from a one-page writing sample - in the OA ? And with reference to this query, how A is DIFFERENT from OA ?

OA: A firm claims to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess more than three hundred personality traits.
Here, the phrase in red serves as an ADVERB modifying to be able to assess, expressing HOW the firm IS ABLE TO ASSESS more than three hundred personality traits.
HOW is the firm ABLE TO ASSESS more than three hundred personality traits?
It is able to assess FROM A ONE-PAGE WRITING SAMPLE.

In the OA, the modifier in red immediately follows able to emphasize that a ONE-PAGE SAMPLE is sufficient to render the firm ABLE.

E: able to assess, from a one-page writing sample
Here, the phrase in red serves as an ADVERB modifying to assess, expressing HOW the firm assesses.
HOW does the firm ASSESS?
It assesses FROM A ONE-PAGE WRITING SAMPLE.

In E, the modifier in red immediately follows to assess, emphasizing how the firm ASSESSES.
Since the intent is to emphasize how the firm is ABLE, the placement in the OA is preferable.

A and B: A firm claims from a one-page writing sample
Here, the phrase in red seems to serve as an adverb modifying claims, indicating HOW the firm CLAIMS.
How does the firm CLAIM?
It claims FROM A ONE-PAGE WRITING SAMPLE.
Not the intended meaning.

C: A firm claims the ability, from a one-page writing sample
Here, the phrase in red seems to serve as an ADJECTIVE describing the ability.
What KIND of ability?
An ability FROM A ONE-PAGE WRITING SAMPLE.
Not the intended meaning.

Hi Mitch,
Thanks for the analysis, BUT I think, I still have some doubts that in BOTH A and the OA, the firm makes a CLAIM(about its ability -- explicitly in the OA and perhaps implicitly in A), so NOT able to catch the SUBTLE differences between A and OA.

It'd be great if you can help in clarifying this aspect. Much thanks in advance!

RBBmba@2014 wrote:A firm that specializes in the analysis of handwriting claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess more than three hundred personality traits, including enthusiasm, imagination, and ambition.

(A) from a one-page writing sample that it can assess
(B) from a one-page writing sample it has the ability of assessing
(C) the ability, from a one-page writing sample, of assessing
(D) to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess
(E) being able to assess, from a one-page writing sample,

OA : D

@ Experts - I'd seek some clarity on the EXACT function of the PHRASE - from a one-page writing sample - in the OA ? And with reference to this query, how A is DIFFERENT from OA ?

The condensed sentence is "A firm claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess traits.

a) A firm claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess traits.
"claims from" is incorrect. This is different from "A firm claims that it can assess traits from a one-pafe writing sample".

d)A firm claims to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess traits.
Correct form of idiom - "claims to".

RBBmba@2014 wrote:Hi Mitch,
Thanks for the analysis, BUT I think, I still have some doubts that in BOTH A and the OA, the firm makes a CLAIM(about its ability -- explicitly in the OA and perhaps implicitly in A), so NOT able to catch the SUBTLE differences between A and OA.

It'd be great if you can help in clarifying this aspect. Much thanks in advance!

john claimed from the security office the suitcase that he had lost.
Conveyed meaning:
The security office was IN POSSESSION OF the suitcase that John had lost.

A: A firm claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess more than three hundred personality traits.
Conveyed meaning:
A one-page writing sample is IN POSSESSION OF that it can assess more than three hundred personality traits.
This meaning is nonsensical.

Also:
claims TO BE is appropriate when a subject is making a claim about ITSELF.
claims THAT is appropriate when a subject is making a claim about SOMETHING OTHER THAN ITSELF.

In the SC above, the firm is making a claim about itself, so the appropriate idiom is claims to be, as in the OA:
A firm...claims to be able...to assess more than three hundred personality traits.

For another SC that tests the difference between claims to be and claims that, check my second post here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gprep-sc-17-t277559.html