A good SC!

[gmat_perfect]

Responding to the public's fascination with-and sometimes undue alarm over-possible threats from asteroids,a scale
developed by astronomers rates the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet may collide with Earth.

A. a scale developed by astronomers rates the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet may
B. a scale that astronomers have developed rates how likely it is for a particular asteroid or comet to
C. astronomers have developed a scale to rate how likely a particular asteroid or comet will be to
D. astronomers have developed a scale for rating the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet will
E. astronomers have developed a scale that rates the likelihood of a particular asteroid or comet that may.

[spoiler]OA: Debated[/spoiler]

[ashokkadam]

Responding to the public's fascination with-and sometimes undue alarm over-possible threats from asteroids,a scale
developed by astronomers rates the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet may collide with Earth.

A. a scale developed by astronomers rates the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet may
B. a scale that astronomers have developed rates how likely it is for a particular asteroid or comet to
C. astronomers have developed a scale to rate how likely a particular asteroid or comet will be to
D. astronomers have developed a scale for rating the likelihood that a particular asteroid or comet will
E. astronomers have developed a scale that rates the likelihood of a particular asteroid or comet that may.

[spoiler]OA: Debated[/spoiler]

I think D is the correct answer.

A and B are wrong because "Responding.......asteroid" should modify "astronomers". C and E are wrong because of awkwardness.

[karanrulz4ever]

IMO D

A and B eliminated as they both have modifier error.
C "a scale to rate how likely" is awkward and weird
E "likelihood" and "may" introduce redundancy.

[gmat_perfect]

Would any expert explain?

Awkwardness is not an explanation of a potential error. We MUST explain what makes something awkward.

Thanks.

[hitmis]

imo E

'Responding' should modify a noun, hence astronomers and not a scale is required in the clause. Eliminate A, B.

Better word is 'likelihood' rather than 'how likely' Eliminate C

particular asteroid or comet will collide shows surety of this scenario happening, while its actually a possibility not a sure scenario. Eliminate D

E is right answer uses 'may' instead. Why are people discounting E? What is the OA ?

[krazy800]

imo E

'Responding' should modify a noun, hence astronomers and not a scale is required in the clause. Eliminate A, B.

Better word is 'likelihood' rather than 'how likely' Eliminate C

particular asteroid or comet will collide shows surety of this scenario happening, while its actually a possibility not a sure scenario. Eliminate D

E is right answer uses 'may' instead. Why are people discounting E? What is the OA ?

In E we have both likelihood and may - redundancy creeps in that sentence.

HTH!!

[niksworth]

imo E

'Responding' should modify a noun, hence astronomers and not a scale is required in the clause. Eliminate A, B.

Better word is 'likelihood' rather than 'how likely' Eliminate C

particular asteroid or comet will collide shows surety of this scenario happening, while its actually a possibility not a sure scenario. Eliminate D

E is right answer uses 'may' instead. Why are people discounting E? What is the OA ?

In addition to what krazy800 has written about redundancy,

We can have likelihood of an event. We cannot have likelihood of an object.

Look at choice E -
a scale that rates the likelihood of a particular asteroid or comet that may collide with Earth.

The part in orange is modifying comet. So we are essentially saying - likelihood of a particular type of comet. This is wrong.

C is incorrect as how likely X will be to is an incorrect idiom. Correct - how likely is X

A and B have modifier issues.

D is right.

[hitmis]

Agree with you niksworth.

Thanks

[GMATMadeEasy]

@niksworth : An interestin point you have raised and it is mother of many diffuclt types of errors to catch, especially when in hurry. I have seen this pattern in many questions.

[gmat_perfect]

Yes, OA is D.

Thanks every one.