OG Verbal Review SC #82

[andy9923]

Hi all,

I am revisiting the OG verbal guide and noticed that there appears to be a typo:

#82) Geologists believe that the warning signs for a major earthquake may include sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting, and other deformations of the Earth's crust, changing the measured strain across of a fault zone and varying the electrical properties of underground rocks.

a) changing the measured strain across a fault zone and varying
b) changing measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and varying
c) changing the strain as measured across a fault zone, and variations of
d) changes in the measured strain across a fault zone, and variations in
e) changes in measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and variations among

Interestingly enough, this question is printed as follows in the answer explanations:

#82) Geologists believe that the warning signs for a major earthquake may include sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting and other deformations of the Earth's crust, changing the measured strain across of a fault zone and varying the electrical properties of underground rocks.

a) changing the measured strain across a fault zone and varying
b) changing measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and varying
c) changing the strain as measured across a fault zone, and variations of
d) changes in the measured strain across a fault zone, and variations in
e) changes in measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and variations among

Doesn't the missing comma (",") change the meaning of the sentence? I thought the sentence construct is a list of 3 items, with a modifying phrase for the third item. The OG explains that it should be a list of 4 items.

I would like to know if other copies of the OG have the same typo and whether this affected other people's answer choices.

Thanks a lot

[aj5105]

Hello Andy,

Is the answer B for this question?
Please let me know.

thanks!
aj

[andy9923]

Hi AJ,

The correct answer according to the OG is choice D.

I suppose none of these "sudden fluctuations" can change the measured strain across a fault zone or vary the electrical properties of underground rocks. Hence, these phenomena are examples of the fluctuations. They do not describe what the fluctuations do.

However, with a construct of "a, b, and c", the original sentence looks confusing (to me).

Does anyone agree?

[MBAboy]

I think (e) is the right answer.

My reason all the other phrases are in simple present.

fluctuations
deformations
changes

followed by subject
measurements of strain

[santa_dem]

I think (e) is the right answer.

My reason all the other phrases are in simple present.

fluctuations
deformations
changes

followed by subject
measurements of strain

Changes in the measurments of the strain is not correct, as the changes actualy reffer to the strain. It is the measured strain that changes, and not the measurments of the strain.

[ildude02]

IMO is D as per the revised question.

The inital typo question doesn't realy make sense since it seems like "warnings" are changing the measured strain across a fault zone and varying and we need to remove the "," to make D a viable choice.

[andy9923]

I agree that the comma (",") shouldn't be there. I was deciding between choice b and choice d, and opted for b when I answered the question, primarily due to the comma.

[NSNguyen]

the comma should be there. It is a list of 4 items, all in noun phrases
D is correct, E "among" changes the meaning,