Modifier Help!!

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shobhitk: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 37; Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:37 pm; Thanked: 2 times

by shobhitk » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:48 am

The intricate structure of the compound insect eye, having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain why scientists have assumed that it evolved independently of the vertebrate eye.

A: having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain why scientists have assumed that it
B: having hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that they
C: with its hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain scientists' assuming that they
D: with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain scientists' assuming that it
E: with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that it

OA is E

Doubt-: In the context of above question and generally, I'm facing the following issue in understanding modifiers -:
For eg: A of B, having.... - Does "having..." modify B or A? ; or more specifically what kind of modifiers modify B and what kind of does A?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:48 am

AnjaliOberoi: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 223; Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:22 amFollowed by: 8 members; Thanked: 12 times

by AnjaliOberoi » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:15 pm

A: having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain why scientists have assumed that it
B: having hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that they
C: with its hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain scientists' assuming that they
D: with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain scientists' assuming that it
E: with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that it - correct

The intricate structure of the compound insect eye, having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain why scientists have assumed that it evolved independently of the vertebrate eye.

If we omit the clause between comma's then we can see that the intricate structure is singular and the verb which should follow is also singular and hence helps is the required verb. Same is with the usage of they.

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shobhitk: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 37; Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:37 pm; Thanked: 2 times

by shobhitk » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:45 pm

Experts can u help me on the following-:

Doubt-: In the context of above question and generally, I'm facing the following issue in understanding modifiers -:
For eg: A of B, having.... - Does "having..." modify B or A? ; or more specifically what kind of modifiers modify B and what kind of does A?

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phanikpk: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 66; Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:48 pmFollowed by: 1 member

by phanikpk » Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:42 am

shobhitk wrote:Experts can u help me on the following-:

Doubt-: In the context of above question and generally, I'm facing the following issue in understanding modifiers -:
For eg: A of B, having.... - Does "having..." modify B or A? ; or more specifically what kind of modifiers modify B and what kind of does A?

In this case, :having" will modify A but not B, because B is in the form of prepositional phrase, which we have to omit.

Hope it helps...

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[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:34 am

Hi phanikpk,

When a GMAT SC includes modifying words or phrases, the modifier almost always modifies a noun (although in some rarer, tougher SCs, it modifies something other than a noun). It's important to determine what the exact noun is, so you can match the modifier and any other words that are based on the noun (verbs, pronouns, etc.).

eg.

"Employees are...."

Here, the noun is EMPLOYEES, which is plural.

"A group of employees...."

Here, the noun is A GROUP, which is singular.

In the given prompt, we're dealing with....

"The intricate structure of the compound insect eye...."

Here, the noun is THE INTRICATE STRUCTURE, which is singular.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

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