SC 1000 #705

[supique]

705. The cameras of the Voyager II spacecraft detected six small, previously unseen moons circling Uranus, which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting the distant planet.
(A) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting
(B) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known to orbit
(C) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known in orbit around
(D) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting
(E) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known that orbit

OA is B.
Can anyone elaborate more? My answer is E, what's actually wrong with E?

[kajcha]

"which" is modifying Uranus.. so it is not right.

[perfectstranger]

705. The cameras of the Voyager II spacecraft detected six small, previously unseen moons circling Uranus, which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting the distant planet.

(A) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting-which refers here to Uranus rather than moons
(B) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known to orbit
(C) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known in orbit around-same as A-
(D) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting
(E) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known that orbit -Same as A-

Yet I did not understand why it is B instead of C.' is not 'circling,..... as orbitting '' clause a parallelism example? Can someone explain ?[/b]

[Domnu]

I think that the OA is correct... the answer cannot be A, C, or E, since these choices imply that the cameras do the doubling... that's not true. This leaves us with B and D; choice D is awkward with "as orbiting," so the answer should be B.

[luck76]

B is correct for 2 points: "the cameras ...., doubling" and "known to orbit", structure: clause, V-ing and idiom: know to do

[gmat579]

In my opinion, A, C and E are incorrect because the relative modifier ",which...." should modify the noun before the comma. So in these choices 'which' modifies Uranus. B and D choices remain. I would choose B between B and D because of the phrase "known to" sounds better. Choose B!

[inactived]

I type the official explanation here in case someone might need it in the future. Note that this problem is as same as problem #49, Official Gmat 10th Edition.

The pronoun which should be used to refer to a previously mentioned noun, not to the idea expressed in an entire clause. In A, C, and E, which seems to refer to a vague concept involving the detection of moons, but there is no specific noun, such as detection, to which it can refer. Also in E, the use of the phrasing the number... now known that orbit is ungrammatical and unclear. B and D use the correct participial form, doubling, to modify the preceding clause, but D, like A, uses known as orbiting rather than known to orbit, a phrase that is more idiomatic in context. B, therefore, is the best answer.

[Junebug]

X, which(when, where, what, who) always modifies specific word X.
So for A, C, E 'which' stands for 'Uranus' and it doesn't make sense.
If you want to modify a clause 'that' should be used.

So "doubling" is better.

And 'known as' is existing expression, but it has different meaning from 'known to'.

e.g.
He is known as a poet.
He is known for the poem.
He is known to compose great poems.

I am not native American, so I can't really tell the exact difference between these expressions, but for me, above examples seem natural.
But I feel awkward when I try to 'explain a situation or status' after 'known as'.

e.g. He is known as composing great poems. -> isn't it awkward?

'known as' is natural using without a verb.
(Normally it is natural using with a noun that qualifies the subject.)

e.g.
She is known as a singer.
He is known as a good soccer player.

But if it contains a verb to explain something 'known to' is natural.
e.g. He is known to compose great poems.

Hence, (B)