Top 100 Official SC Revision Question #9 Discussion on that

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With its abundance of noun inflections, Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English.

A. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English
B. are compact when they are written, but they can lengthen considerably when they are translated in English
C. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when being translated into English
D. are compact when written but can lengthen considerably in English translation
E. is compact when it is written but can lengthen considerably when translated in English
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by richachampion » Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:37 pm
Mitch Hunt's Post #1
Mitch Hunt's Post#2

Mr Hunt,
In some other post you have shared this information =

that + SINGULAR VERB will serve to refer to the nearest preceding singular noun.
that + PLURAL VERB will serve to refer to the nearest preceding plural noun.

In the case of "is" will refer to Icelandic, and
In the case of "are" will refer to languages so both "is" and "are" looks like to be correct.

so do you think eliminating options with that/singular combination is right here?
Aren't we enforcing the "that" touch rule?
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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:00 am
richachampion wrote:With its abundance of noun inflections, Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English.

A. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English
B. are compact when they are written, but they can lengthen considerably when they are translated in English
C. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when being translated into English
D. are compact when written but can lengthen considerably in English translation
E. is compact when it is written but can lengthen considerably when translated in English
A, C and E: Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact.
Here, the subject of is (singular) seems to be one (the nearest preceding singular noun).
Conveyed meaning:
Of several Germanic languages, Icelandic is one that is compact.
Here, the intended meaning is unclear:
What are the SEVERAL GERMANIC LANGUAGES implied by the phrase in red?
Since the intended meaning is unclear, eliminate A, C and E.

B: translated in English
This phrasing is unidiomatic.
Correct: translated INTO English.
Eliminate B.

The correct answer is D.

OA: Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that are compact.
Conveyed meaning:
Of several Germanic languages that are compact, Icelandic is one.
Here, the intended meaning is crystal clear:
There are several Germanic languages that ARE compact.
Icelandic is one of these Germanic languages.
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