BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

usage which

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:59 am

usage which

by amitu » Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:17 pm
Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers,
significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
more than $100 billion a year.
128
(A) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business
of
(B) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
(C) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
(D) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
(E) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

in the option a and b which refers to what ? please comment on the usage of which .
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:20 pm
Thanked: 74 times
Followed by:4 members

by uwhusky » Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:28 pm
"which" is referring to the closest noun, and in this case would be "effects" of drug and alcohol abuse.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 392
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 2:42 am
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 116 times
Followed by:10 members
GMAT Score:770

by albatross86 » Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:28 pm
I'll quote an expert, Ron, from the MGMAT forums. Option B is the correct answer
You are correct: when you have "X of Y" before a modifier of this type, the modifier could potentially refer either to "Y" by itself or to the whole unit "X of Y". It's up to context to determine which.
So here, which is referring to "effects of drug an alcohol abuse" because of the context of the sentence.

For some helpful pointers on the which / that conundrum, try this website :

https://www.englishforums.com/English/Ab ... b/post.htm
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 748
Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:54 am
Thanked: 46 times
Followed by:3 members

by outreach » Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:29 pm
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/exe ... t1651.html
amitu wrote:Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers,
significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
more than $100 billion a year.
128
(A) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business
of
(B) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
(C) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
(D) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
(E) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

in the option a and b which refers to what ? please comment on the usage of which .
-------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
General blog
https://amarnaik.wordpress.com
MBA blog
https://amarrnaik.blocked/
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1