1000 SC #985

by **gter** Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:54 am

985. Those who have visited the Grand Canyon have typically seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors that mark the passage of time like the rings in a tree trunk.
(A) seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors that mark
(B) see layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, whose different colors mark
(C) been seeing layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, whose different colors are markers of
(D) been able to see layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors marking
(E) seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, marking by different colors

Can someone please explain why the answer is d and not e? (i.e. why prepositional phrase and not participial phrase)?

Thanks.

by **RonPurewal** Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:22 am

It's a matter of clarity. The message of the sentence is that the COLORS in the sediment 'mark the passage of time', which is exactly what's said in choice D.

Choice E uses a present participial construction. At best, this implies that the sediment itself is 'marking the passage of time' while they watch (that'd be something!). At worst, and more properly, the participial phrase would be taken to be an adverb phrase modifying the MAIN VERB of the sentence ('have seen') - which implies the absurd notion that the tourists themselves were marking the passage of all those years.

Note the trap at the beginning of the correct answer: 'been able to see' seems like it's too wordy, but remember that grammatical correctness and clarity of meaning both trump concision.

by **sanj** Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:19 am

RPurewal Wrote:It's a matter of clarity. The message of the sentence is that the COLORS in the sediment 'mark the passage of time', which is exactly what's said in choice D.

Choice E uses a present participial construction. At best, this implies that the sediment itself is 'marking the passage of time' while they watch (that'd be something!). At worst, and more properly, the participial phrase would be taken to be an adverb phrase modifying the MAIN VERB of the sentence ('have seen') - which implies the absurd notion that the tourists themselves were marking the passage of all those years.

Note the trap at the beginning of the correct answer: 'been able to see' seems like it's too wordy, but remember that grammatical correctness and clarity of meaning both trump concision.

hey Ron
could you please elaborate what's wrong with A?

thanx in advance

by **StaceyKoprince** Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:32 pm

1000SC is now a banned source; we've left the original problem up because it was posted before the ban was enacted, but we cannot continue to host discussions about it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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