Sentence Correction

Transplanting is one of the methods that is commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields, and is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in a variety of spatial configurations.

A - is commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields, and is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in
B - is commonly used for rice seeding in irrigated fields, and is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in
C - are commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields, and is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery for
D - are commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields, and is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in
E - are commonly used for the seeding of rice in fields that are irrigated, and it is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in

A - This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative clause that is commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields describes the noun that appears immediately before it, namely, methods. Since methods follows one of the and is plural, the verb that follows it also needs to be plural. However, is is singular.

B - Incorrect.

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and repeats the original Relative Clause error.

C - Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using the plural verb are, it creates a grammatical error by using the incorrect preposition (for) before the phrase a variety of. The correct idiomatic expression in this case would be in a variety of.

D - Correct.

The relative clause that is commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields describes the noun that appears immediately before it, namely, methods. This answer choice, therefore, correctly uses the plural verb are.

E - Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the original Relative Clause error by using the plural verb are, it creates Redundancy with the wordy phrase fields that are irrigated. Look for a more concise answer choice.

@Kasia,

Good question: I have doubt regarding D V/s E. One of the main differences between D and E -- that you didn't discuss -- is repetition of the subject in the second clause of E. I believe, since you are using COMMA + AND, it results in a separate clause and hence subject must be present in the second clause. Can you please elaborate on that aspect?

P.S: You've over under-lined ( oxymoron? )the question.

The subject does not change - "transplanting" is the subject in both clauses. Therefore, it does not need to be repeated and can be elided.

Underlining corrected - thanks for pointing that out!

Kasia@MasterGMAT wrote:The subject does not change - "transplanting" is the subject in both clauses. Therefore, it does not need to be repeated and can be elided.

So, you're saying that repetition of the subject is not an issue between D and E, and that E is incorrect only because of the redundancy? Please confirm.

I was also stuck at D vs E

in D, I feel there is modifier ambiguity and it is not clear whether ' is performed either manually or by ...' is modifying fields or transplanting.

in E, the ambiguity has been removed by the repetition of the subject.

If my understanding is wrong, can you please explain the ambiguity issue is getting resolved in D.
I think <noun>, <modifier1 for noun>, and <modifier2 for same noun> is a valid and parallel construction.

I think usage of is/are in the second modifier is NOT sufficient to resolve the ambiguity.

Thanks!

I have doubt regarding D V/s E. One of the main differences between D and E -- that you didn't discuss -- is repetition of the subject in the second clause of E. I believe, since you are using COMMA + AND, it results in a separate clause and hence subject must be present in the second clause. Can you please elaborate on that aspect?

If I rephrase E as mentioned below, would that make it a correct answer ?

E - are commonly used for the seeding of rice in irrigated fields , and it is performed either manually or by mechanical transplanting machinery in

-soaringAlone