punishing miscreants

[ken3233]

The OA is E. I picked A. Please analyze all the answers. Thanks.

In the last few years, the number of convicted criminals given community service sentences, which allow the criminals to remain unconfined while they perform specific jobs benefiting the public, have risen dramatically.

A
B - sentences, performing specific jobs that benefit the public while being allowed to remain unconfined, have
C - sentences, performing specific jobs beneficial to the public while they are allowed to remain unconfined, have
D - sentences which allow them to remain unconfined in their performing of specific jobs beneficial to the public has
E - sentences allowing them to remain unconfined while performing specific jobs that benefit the public has

[Sher1]

A is wrong for two reasons. The subject of the sentence is number which will require a singular verb "has" so rule out A, B, C

D has a modifier issue. Whenever modifiers "which, whose, that etc is used, it modifies the word preceding it. Since we need to modify the entire phrase an "ing" construction should be used.


In the last few years, the number of convicted criminals given community service sentences, which allow the criminals to remain unconfined while they perform specific jobs benefiting the public, have risen dramatically.

A
B - sentence, performing speicific jobs that benefit the public while being allowed to remain unconfined, have
C - sentences, performing specific jobs beneficial to the public while they are allowed to remain unconfined, have
D - sentences which allow them to remain unconfined in their performing of specific jobs beneficial to the public has
E - sentences allowing them to remain unconfined while performing specific jobs that benefit the public has

[ken3233]

A is wrong for two reasons. The subject of the sentence is number which will require a singular verb "has" so rule out A, B, C

D has a modifier issue. Whenever modifiers "which, whose, that etc is used, it modifies the word preceding it. Since we need to modify the entire phrase an "ing" construction should be used.

Thanks. That makes sense. These questions are taken from GMAT pencil-and-paper test #25.

[TedCornell]

A is wrong for two reasons. The subject of the sentence is number which will require a singular verb "has" so rule out A, B, C

D has a modifier issue. Whenever modifiers "which, whose, that etc is used, it modifies the word preceding it. Since we need to modify the entire phrase an "ing" construction should be used.

I agree with your reason for eliminating A, B and C. However, I don't agree with the claim that D has a modifier issue because in fact it is the "community service sentences" that allow criminals to remain unconfined. I believe that we are indeed modifying the noun immediately preceding "which".

Note also that although "-ing" constructions often modify entire clauses, this is only true when the "-ing" is preceded by a comma.

• "The scientists discovered a new planet, increasing the number of known planets to 10". This is correct, and the "-ing" is modifiying the entire first clause.
  
  "The scientists discovered a new planet orbiting around the sun." This is correct, but in this case the "-ing" modifies only "planet" because it is not preceded by a comma.
  
  "The number of sentences allowing criminals to remain unconfined has risen" is correct. The "-ing" modifies only the noun "sentences".

The problem with D in my opinion is the awckward construction "in their performing". On the gmat, this is considered weak writing and is typically shunned for a subject+verb construct such as "while they perform".

Ken, you posted another question today that has the same issue. "their burning" and "their eating" was incorrect in that sentence because it's considered weak writing.

[ken3233]

In the last few years, the number of convicted criminals given community service sentences, which allow the criminals to remain unconfined while they perform specific jobs benefiting the public, have risen dramatically.


D - sentences which allow them to remain unconfined in their performing of specific jobs beneficial to the public has

QUESTION:

Let's suppose that D had used "that" instead of "which". Would the use of "that" have automatically invalidated D on the GMAT? This is a finer nuance I have yet to grasp. Thanks.