The toxic waste containing zylen: BTG PQ

[The Jock]

The toxic waste containing zylene is still being dumped outside in the town five years after women in nearby housing projects were found to have borne children with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of their pregnancies was normal.

a. to have borne children with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of their pregnancies was
b. to have had children born with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of the pregnancies was
c. either to have had children with heart defects or miscarriages, without any of their pregnancies being
d. either to have had miscarriages or to have borne children with heart defects; none of the pregnancies was
e. either to have had miscarriages or children born with heart defects, without which any of their pregnancies being

I found the sentence structure little unusual and off course got the wrong answer. Can you guys please help to dissect this question.

[shweta.kalra]

D, THOUGH WORDY BUT MEANING IS CLEAR.

[scorpionz]

The toxic waste containing zylene is still being dumped outside in the town five years after women in nearby housing projects were found to have borne children with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of their pregnancies was normal.


a. to have borne children with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of their pregnancies was - indicates as if children had heart defects or miscarriages. The intention of the statement is that the women either had miscarriages or gave birth to children who had heart defects.

b. to have had children born with heart defects or miscarriages, and none of the pregnancies was - same problem as A

c. either to have had children with heart defects or miscarriages, without any of their pregnancies being - same problem as A

d. either to have had miscarriages or to have borne children with heart defects; none of the pregnancies was - Correct. Meaning is clear. The two clauses are independent and correctly separated by a ";"

e. either to have had miscarriages or children born with heart defects, without which any of their pregnancies being - Resolves the problem in A, B & C but "without which" is illogical.

Hope this helps!

Cheers!!