Sentence Correction

I don't understand verbING refers to the true subject in the sentence? OR verbING refers to a noun that next to it? Thanks

OG16-51
Neuroscientist, having amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years about the brain and its development for birth to adulthood, are now drawing solid conclusions about how the human brain grows and how babies acquire language.
(A)Correct
(D) Neuroscientists have amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years about the brain and its development from birth to adulthood,
(OG explanation D, the final descriptor in present tense now drawing conclusions...does not fit the opening clause, which is in present-perfect tense (have amassed a wealth..) and seems to modify adulthood.)
My question is why drawing here is modifying adulthood rather than Neuroscientists?

sunh0003 wrote:OG explanation D, the final descriptor in present tense now drawing conclusions...does not fit the opening clause, which is in present-perfect tense (have amassed a wealth..) and seems to modify adulthood.)
My question is why drawing here is modifying adulthood rather than Neuroscientists?

The OE for D is incorrect.
A COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to refer to the PRECEDING SUBJECT and expresses an action that is CONCURRENT WITH the preceding action.

D: Neuroscientists have amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years, now drawing solid conclusions about how the human brain grows and how babies acquire language.
Here, now drawing seems to refer to neuroscientists -- the preceding subject -- implying that neuroscientists are NOW DRAWING conclusions at the same time as an action that took place in the PAST (the amassing of knowledge over the past twenty years).
This sequence is illogical.
Eliminate D.

GMATGuruNY wrote:implying that neuroscientists are NOW DRAWING conclusions at the same time as an action that took place in the PAST (the amassing of knowledge over the past twenty years).
This sequence is illogical.

Hello GMATGuruNY, had a related question. Wanted your opinion on this sentence:

Edward studied at St.Patrick's, graduating with distinction.

Here again, graduating with distinction happened later, while Edward studied at St.Patrick's in the past.

bonetlobo wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:implying that neuroscientists are NOW DRAWING conclusions at the same time as an action that took place in the PAST (the amassing of knowledge over the past twenty years).
This sequence is illogical.

Hello GMATGuruNY, had a related question. Wanted your opinion on this sentence:

Edward studied at St.Patrick's, graduating with distinction.

Here again, graduating with distinction happened later, while Edward studied at St.Patrick's in the past.

The sentence above is incorrect.
On the GMAT, a COMMA + VERBing action must be CONTEMPORANEOUS with the preceding action.
Since the act of GRADUATING did not happen when Edward STUDIED, the sentence above is not viable.

A similar error can be found in SC29 in the OG15.
Check my post here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/emily-dickin ... 21769.html

Thx for your explanation. I had exact the same confusion. I like your explanation than OE.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

sunh0003 wrote:OG explanation D, the final descriptor in present tense now drawing conclusions...does not fit the opening clause, which is in present-perfect tense (have amassed a wealth..) and seems to modify adulthood.)
My question is why drawing here is modifying adulthood rather than Neuroscientists?

The OE for D is incorrect.
A COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to refer to the PRECEDING SUBJECT and expresses an action that is CONCURRENT WITH the preceding action.

D: Neuroscientists have amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years, now drawing solid conclusions about how the human brain grows and how babies acquire language.
Here, now drawing seems to refer to neuroscientists -- the preceding subject -- implying that neuroscientists are NOW DRAWING conclusions at the same time as an action that took place in the PAST (the amassing of knowledge over the past twenty years).
This sequence is illogical.
Eliminate D.