proton-induced X-ray emission

Question

Originally developed for directing air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destorying it, is finding uses in medicine, archaelogy, and criminology.

(A) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,
(B) Orignially developed for detecting air pollutants, having the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission
(C) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it
(D) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray emission, which has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any
(E) A technique that was originally developed for detecting air pollutants and has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying the substance, called proton-induced X-ray emission,

i eliminated C & D on the basis that "called....emission" refers to "air pollutants". Am i correct here

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Kasia@EconomistGMAT · Answer

The problem with answers C and D is that in both answers the relative clause beginning with "which" incorrectly modifies "emission."

vikram4689 · Answer

Kasia@MasterGMAT wrote:The problem with answers C and D is that in both answers the relative clause beginning with "which" incorrectly modifies "emission."

but that would the problem only if "called proton-induced X-ray emission" is not adjacent to "technique". and therefore A is correct even if "emission,which" construction is present in A. so i think major issue is placement of "called proton-induced X-ray emission"

am i correct

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mv12 · Answer

I would like to go with A

Kasia@EconomistGMAT · Answer

@vikram4689
You are correct, answers C and D sound as if the air pollutants were called proton-induced X-ray emission. However, I think that answer A is also flawed, though it is the best of all available choices.

vinodsundaram · Answer

stacey had previously given an explanation

The difference is in the placement of the various phrases.

A: "(opening modifier), (noun) (modified by necessary descriptive phrase), which" - in this structure, which refers to the noun. Note that the few words right after "technique" are simply the name of that technique. These words ("technique called proton-induced X-ray emission") collectively make up the extended noun phrase to which "which" refers. The single-word noun is technique but the other words are necessary to understand what technique we're talking about.

C: "(Noun) (modifier), (modifer), which" - in this structure, we've separated what had been the necessary descriptive phrase from the noun, so it is no longer a part of any extended noun phrase. As a result, the "which" in this case really does only apply to "emission" rather than to a "technique called emission" b/c "a technique called emission" as a simple noun phrase, is no longer part of the sentence.

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