NandishSS wrote:Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.
(A) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart
(B) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s for thwarting
(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
(D) growing rampant in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s for thwarting
(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
A:
Kudzu...has grown...since introducing it
D:
Kudzu...growing...since introducing it
In these options,
Kudzu seems to be both the agent of
introducing and the referent for
it, implying that KUDZU IS INTRODUCING KUDZU.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate A and D.
Generally,
for + VERBING cannot serve to express intent.
B:
it was introduced...for thwarting soil erosion
Here,
for thwarting incorrectly serves to express the intent of whoever introduced Kudzu.
To express this intent, we use
to + VERB, as in the OA:
it was introduced TO THWART soil erosion.
Eliminate B.
One purpose of the present perfect --
has/have + VERBed -- is to express an action that STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUES IN THE PRESENT.
E:
growing...since...the 1920s
Here, the modifier in red implies that the act of growing started in the past and continues in the present.
For this reason, this action must be expressed as a present perfect verb:
Kudzu...HAS GROWN...since...the 1920s
Eliminate E.
The correct answer is
C.
rampant is an ADJECTIVE that means
uncontrolled.
rampantly is an ADVERB that means
in an uncontrolled way.
In the SC above, both seem acceptable.
Correct:
Kudzu has grown rampant.
Here,
rampant is an ADJECTIVE serving to modify
Kudzu.
The conveyed meaning is that -- as a result of the action in blue -- Kudzu is now UNCONTROLLED.
Correct:
Kudzu has grown rampantly.
Here,
rampantly is an ADVERB serving to modify
has grown.
The conveyed meaning is that Kudzu has grown IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER.
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