Sentence Correction

The use of lie detectors is based on the assumption that lying produces emotional reactions in an individual that, in turn, create unconscious physiological response.
A) that, in turn, create unconscious physiological responses.
B) that creates unconscious physiological responses in turn.
C) creating, in turn, unconscious physiological responses.
D) to create, in turn, physiological responses that are unconscious.
E) who creates unconscious physiological responses in turn.


In option C , OG says that "creating" refer back to lying .
Can you please explain how?

The use of lie detectors is based on the assumption that lying produces emotional reactions in an individual that, in turn, create unconscious physiological responses.

(A) that, in turn, create unconscious physiological responses
(8) that creates unconscious physiological responses in turn
(C) creating, in turn, unconscious physiological responses
(D) to create, in turn, physiological responses that are unconscious
(E) who creates unconscious physiological responses in turn

B: an individual that...creates unconscious physiological responses
C: an individual creating...unconscious physiological responses
E: an individual who...creates unconscious physiological responses
In each of these options, the modifier in red implies that AN INDIVIDUAL CREATES/IS CREATING unconscious physiological responses in himself.
This meaning is nonsensical.
An individual cannot create UNCONSCIOUS physiological responses in himself.
The physiological responses are deemed UNCONSCIOUS because an individual is UNAWARE of them.
The intended meaning is that EMOTIONAL REACTIONS CREATE unconscious physiological responses IN AN INDIVIDUAL.
Eliminate B, C and E.

D: lying produces emotional reactions...to create unconscious physiological responses
Here, the modifier in red implies that lying INTENDS to create unconscious physiological responses when it produces emotional reactions.
Not the intended meaning.
Lying cannot have an intent.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is A.

and what about the OG explaination about the option C?

anksm22 wrote:and what about the OG explaination about the option C?

C: an individual creating, in turn, unconscious physiological responses
Here, creating seems to modify an individual, implying that an INDIVIDUAL is CREATING unconscious physiological responses.
As noted in my post above, the intended meaning is that EMOTIONAL REACTIONS create unconscious physiological responses.
Thus, in its current form, C distorts the intended meaning.

The OE for C discusses the meaning that would be implied if creating were "preceded by a comma," as follows:
Lying produces emotional reactions in an individual, creating unconscious physiological responses.
Generally, a COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to express an action attributed to the preceding SUBJECT.
Here, COMMA + creating seems to refer to lying -- the preceding subject -- implying that LYING is CREATING physiological responses.
Thus, even if a comma is inserted before creating, the intended meaning is not conveyed.

Eliminate C.