Tough question in GMAT Test

[questionbox]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

[viju9162]

I could eliminate A, B as the modifier should explain about researchers.

However, I am not sure why D cannot be the right answer.

Thanks,
Viju

[kvcpk]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.

Hence C brings that distinction clearly.

[viju9162]

wow wonderful! Thank you kvcpk!

One word missing changes the entire meaning . Should be very careful while reading the answer choices.

regards,
Viju

[ansumania]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.


Hence C brings that distinction clearly.

I think so...

[ayushiiitm]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

In both D and E, that and which modifies plants, because relative pronoun is near to plants

But relative pronouns should be near to techniques

the antecedent of 'them' is also not clear.

I dont think use of 'used' makes a difference

[sumanr84]

Don't you think in C,D and E -" to genetically enhance" is a split infinitive error.

what is the source of this problem ?

[gmat_perfect]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

Some thoughts:

1. Comma + Present participle:

"Comma + Present Participle" modifies the previous clause. A clause needs a subject and a verb.
=> In option A, there is no verb. used has been used as past participle. So OUT.

2. "With this ring, I will marry you"--with can be used as an opening modifier. In that case, the immediate next noun will be modified.

=> B has made a mistake by modifying "so that they are". OUT.

3. which modifies the immediate preceding noun.

=> Now, read the option D in the following way:
Plants make them pest resistance. Is it right?

=> Them has two reference plural nouns, techniques and plants. So, them is ambiguous. OUT.

4. That refers to plants and makes the sentence wrong. It changes the intended meaning of the sentence.
OUT.

Answer is C.

[vv126]

You always "USE" techniques , also the rest of the choices (A & B) remove the parallelism between the first and second part of the sentence

[kvcpk]

wow wonderful! Thank you kvcpk!

One word missing changes the entire meaning . Should be very careful while reading the answer choices.

regards,
Viju

You are welcome

[loveusonu]

Don't you think in C,D and E -" to genetically enhance" is a split infinitive error.

what is the source of this problem ?

Yep, I agree C should be best amount all because of "genetically enhancing plants" in D.

But yes good question by Sumanr. I saw this error on 1 of the question on OG. Does any one have the answer to it?

[real2008]

But anybody there to clarify the point raised by 'sumanr84' on split infinitive error issue?

[questionbox]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.

Hence C brings that distinction clea rly.

sorry, I have difficulty understanding your words, and I think C and E have the same meaning. Could you further explain it for me ? And since 'employ' and 'use' have the same meaning, don't you think the construction is 'needlessly wordy'?

[adi_800]

I think E misses out on Infinitive of purpose...

[786]

By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

In both D and E, that and which modifies plants, because relative pronoun is near to plants

But relative pronouns should be near to techniques

the antecedent of 'them' is also not clear.

I dont think use of 'used' makes a difference

Echo , I really doubt whether 'used' is making a differnce here .