Thanks to all for responding!  It was a truly fun and enlightening discussion to get everybody's take not only on the test item itself, but also on the seeming stupidity of this kind of testing.  My question is whether the results of this section of the GMAT correlates in any way with anything that has to do with the admissibility to or the successful completion of an MBA program.  Color me skeptical.

While I appreciate everybody who joined the discussion, it was especially nice to hear from Martha and Craig, a couple of colleagues with whom I have had many interesting discussions and from whom I have learned a lot.  Greetings to both of you.

On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 12:22 PM, Geoffrey Layton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

My bad - when in doubt, do a close reading of the text. Forget A. I'm with Nick. 



From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Nick Carbone <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 9:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: GMAT Question
 
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]> 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]> 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,
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