i think this could be beneficial for as given in MGMAT SC book.

1) A "mission-critical" modifier falls between. This modifier is often an Of phrase that
defines the noun. The less important modifier refers to the noun plus the first modifier.


Right: He had a way OF DODGING OPPONENTS that impressed the scouts.


Here, the "mission-critical" modifier of dodging opponents defines the noun way. Without
this modifier, the noun way is almost meaningless. In turn, the modifier that impressed the
scouts modifies the entire noun phrase a way of dodging opponents. It helps that the relative
pronoun that cannot refer to human opponents, according to the GMAT. Moreover, the
reversed order is nonsensical:

Wrong: He had a way that impressed the scouts OF DODGING OPPONENTS.

Right: An ice sheet covers 80 percent OF THE SURFACEOF GREENLAND. an area roughly the size of Alaska.

The modifier an area roughly the size of Alaska modifies not the noun Greenland, but rather
the whole phrase 80 percent of the surface of Greenland The "mission-critical" modifier of the
surface of Greenland is required next to 80 percent in order to define that percentage.

1992, is just coming in between the same way.so ignore...

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:

goelmohit2002 wrote: Can someone please help me understand why in "E"....an amount modifies #167 billion....why not it modifies the immediately preceding noun i.e. 1992 as is done by "C" ?

"an amount" can only modify an actual amount. 1992 is a year and doesn't qualify.

Hi Stuart,
In OG26,
Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson, which were written...
which here modifies Dickinson's letter. Can you please give some insight into why "which" cannot modify 167 billion?
Please correct me if i'm wrong
which cannot modify the year for the two following reasons:
1. 167 billion in 1992 is the only way to state the intended statement. Otherwise a sentence as follows..."1992's 167 billion, which..." would be awkward
2. "in which" is more correct, and thus, which modify 167 billion in 1992.