Sentence Correction

aspirant2011 wrote:Using technology as new as space-age fabrics and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping that it will then last another 200 years.

(A) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping

(B) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(C) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 is being made in the hope

(D) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians who are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(E) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 in hopes

[spoiler]OA: Why is exactly A wrong???? Isn't attempt at the right idiom????[/spoiler]

GMATGuruNY wrote:

aspirant2011 wrote:Using technology as new as space-age fabrics and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping that it will then last another 200 years.

(A) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping

(B) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(C) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 is being made in the hope

(D) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians who are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(E) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 in hopes

In A, the antecedent of it is not crystal clear: it could refer either to their attempt or to the American flag.

Hi Mitch ,

Thanks a lot for your response. Request you to clarify on the above line that it can refer to their attempt.Wat I was aware about pronoun it was that it can refer to only nouns (except names).Plz correct if I am wrong.

aspirant2011 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

aspirant2011 wrote:Using technology as new as space-age fabrics and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping that it will then last another 200 years.

(A) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping

(B) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(C) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 is being made in the hope

(D) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians who are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(E) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 in hopes

In A, the antecedent of it is not crystal clear: it could refer either to their attempt or to the American flag.

Hi Mitch ,

Thanks a lot for your response. Request you to clarify on the above line that it can refer to their attempt.Wat I was aware about pronoun it was that it can refer to only nouns (except names).Plz correct if I am wrong.

In A, attempt is a noun. In their attempt = preposition + adjective + noun.

Most readers of A will be able to figure out that it is supposed to refer to the flag. But since B avoids this sort of pronoun murkiness, we should eliminate A and choose B.

GMATGuruNY wrote:
Most readers of A will be able to figure out that it is supposed to refer to the flag. But since B avoids this sort of pronoun murkiness, we should eliminate A and choose B.

aspirant2011 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:
Most readers of A will be able to figure out that it is supposed to refer to the flag. But since B avoids this sort of pronoun murkiness, we should eliminate A and choose B.

Hi Mitch,

I am really sorry to bug u again & again but I didn't get your above statement i.e how pronoun murkiness is there in A but not in B

aspirant2011 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:
Most readers of A will be able to figure out that it is supposed to refer to the flag. But since B avoids this sort of pronoun murkiness, we should eliminate A and choose B.

Hi Mitch,

I am really sorry to bug u again & again but I didn't get your above statement i.e how pronoun murkiness is there in A but not in B

gmat25 wrote:Hi Mitch,

I understand the issue related to pronoun ambiguity that u mentioned in Op A. Certainly, we have two NOUNS over there...1st one is ATTEMPT and 2nd one is FLAG. However, i have one question here:

Question:-- As discussed with most of the American Experts, Pronoun ambiguity only occur when there are TWO OR MORE LOGICALLY POSSIBLE ANTECEDENTS are present.

For ex:- John told his friend that he had won the election. (MADE UP)

here, JOHN and FRIEND both can be the logically possible antecedents and hence pronoun HE is ambiguous. However in the given question, if i apply the same principle, in Op A...ATTEMPT and FLAG both can be the LOGICALLY POSSIBLE ANTECEDENT OF PRONOUN IT????

Though, I picked Op B as my answer because of the correct idiom..."Attempt to"