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by krubinoff » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:58 am
Hi everyone,

Here's the question I am confused about:

120. The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitats.

A) a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels,
B) a phenomenon most scientists agree that is caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,
C) a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels,
D) which most scientists agree on as a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels,
E) which most scientists agree to be a phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,

So this was my thought process.
2/3 split between "a phenomenon..." and "which most..." Eliminated D, E because I thought "which most" was not idiomatically correct.
Left with A, B, C.
A seems wrong because of the verb tense. Eliminated.
Left with 50/50 chance between B, C.
The way "that" is placed in B seems wrong. Eliminated.
Left with C.

C is the correct answer.

So, what I am still struggling with is figuring out when to correctly use "which". I find the process confusing. If someone could explain that to me (along with why "which" is wrong in the above circumstance), I would appreciate it!

Thank you :)
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

by mohit_1607 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:10 am
This is a pure case of Resumptive Modifiers.
Please follow the below link as the question has been posted before:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-world-wi ... 66294.html
Polish your skills till you achieve perfection.
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by krubinoff » Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:23 am
Perfect, thank you!
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by Lifetron » Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:40 pm
A - a phenomenon ... caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels
B - a phenomenon ... caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings
C - a phenomenon ... caused by human beings's burning of fossil fuels
D - ...phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels
E - ...phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings

Now, global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels by human beings. Only C gives this meaning. All other choices erroneously suggest that global warming is caused by either human beings or fossil fuels.
I got C with this approach.

I have heard that in real GMAT >700 questions mainly focus on meaning. It is better to consider that, if you find the question a bit challenging !
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