I think a good copy editor or even a human being would put a hand over the problematic verbiage and (1) ask herself what she really meant to say and (2) give the answer orally, then write it down. (3) Then work with that until it makes sense and a good 10th grade reader doesn't stumble over it. As Nick has suggested, multiple choice doesn't generally allow for that method. I also wonder what value the GMAT achieves with questions like this.
Part of the problem is that the isolated bit of language contains too many subordinate and complex grammatical structures, such as a gerund phrase, a passive infinitive phrase, an ambiguous use of "in" and, perhaps, so on. C does seem to me to offer marginal improvement over the original.
I thought Nick and Martha's comments were helpful and astute.
Jonathan Price
From [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
On Feb 27, 2018, at 7:04 AM, Nick Carbone <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
I had to rule out A after watching the movie Dunkirk, which had a scene of "human beings in burning fossil fuels" after an oil fire ignited crew members of sinking ship.
So C for me. But I really don't like C.
The trouble with these kinds of questions is the need to come up with a right answer and at least three distractors. That straight jacket makes it clear that none of the solutions, including the right one, are fully optimal.
They aren't optimal because the multiple choice question design does not easily allow the answer to this question: what would a good copy editor do with that sentence?
On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 9:32 AM, MARTHA KOLLN <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hi John,
I'd pick C.
Martha
P.S. Nice to hear from you!
On Mon, Feb 26, 2018 03:53 PM, Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
A former student of mine is studying for the GMAT and is struggling with the sentence structure section. She sent me a sample from the practice test. Not only did I miss it, but I disagree with the answer that was given. What is your take?
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,
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
Martha Kolln
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
--
nick.carbone at gmail dot com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcarbone/<http://ncarbone.blogspot.com/>
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/