the scary which......

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the scary which......

by 7777 » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:10 am
in the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different "flavors" of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.

(A) most of them at least as small as the electron, which display
(B) most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying
(C) mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying
(D) mostly at least as small as the electron, which display
(E) most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying



if which has a plural verb it refers to the closest preceding plural noun and if it has a singular verb then it refers to the closest preceding singular noun.
however, in the above question , is WHICH in option A CORRECTLY USED?
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:44 am
7777 wrote:In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different "flavors" of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.

if which has a plural verb it refers to the closest preceding plural noun and if it has a singular verb then it refers to the closest preceding singular noun.
however, in the above question , is WHICH in option A CORRECTLY USED?
The intended antecedent is subatomic particles called quarks, but the nearest preceding plural noun phrase is most of them.
We should look for an answer choice that avoids this issue.
Generally, the antecedent for which should be contained in the immediately preceding phrase or clause.

It should be noted that the correct idiom is as small AS -- another reason to eliminate A.
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