Q 163 .SC1000

[Nycgrl]

163. Because Halley’s comet changes orbit slightly during the seventy-six-year interval between passing close to Earth, it may veer onto a collision course with a planet sometime in the distant future.
(A) between passing
(B) of passing
(C) between its passes
(D) of its passes
(E) as it passes

Please explain the logic behind the answer.

[loki.gmat]

In the sentence above, the author is talking about the routes followed by Halley's comet. hence we require the word "passes" here.
hence eliminate A n B.

now the intended meaning of the sentence is to say that every time the comet passes close to earth, it deviates from its route, which it followed last time (seventy six year ago), slightly.
the comet does this during the seventy-six-year interval between its passes close to earth.

hence IMO C.


Thanks!

[sukrant26]

I think only E makes sense.

Whts the OA

[Nycgrl]

IMO is C

[john.3030]

Hi,
IMO, the comet passes every year near the earth.
But it changes its orbit only on every 76th year. Not every year.

So answer is C. Because 'between its passes' every year near the earth, it changes its orbit only on 76th year.

E is wrong as it seems the comet change its direction as it passes near the earth. It is not emphasizing its passes every year.

Not sure whether I am right.
Can anyone shade some light on this.

Thanks.