As the honeybee’s stinger

[ZHUOC614]

As the honeybee’s stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing the bee to sustain a fatal injury.


A. As the honeybee’s stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing
B. As the heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes
C. The honeybee’s stinger, heavily barbed and staying where it is inserted, results in the fact that the act of stinging causes
D. The heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, and results in the act of stinging causing
E. The honeybee’s stinger is heavily barbed and stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes

OA is E.

Hi Ron,

this question has actually been discussed in another thread but it seems that I can not post a reply on that thread because some tech problem. So I post it here and hope that you won't blame me for not abiding the forum rules.

Here's my question:

1/I have a question for the usage of "and" in the correct answer.
You have said that "and" should be used to express separate ideas, but I think the fact "the stinger is barbed" is actually the cause of the "the stinger stays where it is inserted", thus they are not separate. I know correct answer is always correct. But I just want to figure out how the "and" is correctly used here and what kind of relationship is separate enough to use an "and"?


2/Is the "staying..." part used correctly? What does it modifies? the "As..." part or the "this results" part.
I know this may not be the most important issue in this choice, but I am confused by such kind of modifier that appears in the middle of other two parts. Sometimes it seems to modify either the former construction or the latter one, thus it is ambiguous. I am not sure whether I am right. And I actually only have a rough idea about this as stated above. I am not sure when exactly this kind of error will occur thus having a difficulty in identify them when I am eliminating SC choices. So, I am waiting for your further exaplanation on this kind of error.
leaching, the recovery of copper from the drainage water of mines, as a method of the extraction of minerals, it was well established as early as the eighteenth century, but until about 25 years ago miners did not realize that bacteria taken an active part in the process.

(A) as a method of the extraction of minerals, it was well established
(B) as a method of the extraction of minerals well established
(C) was a well-established method of mineral extraction
(D) was a well-established method of extracting mineral that was
(E) had been a method of mineral extraction, well established

Thanks a lot!

[RonPurewal]

1/
They're intrinsically separate, in the sense that neither of them follows from the other.
The bee's stinger could be heavily barbed but still retractable, so that the bee could re-use it. So, "heavily barbed" doesn't necessarily imply "stays where the bee puts it".
And, of course, "stays in place" doesn't imply that something is heavily barbed.
So, neither of the parts is describing the other part. Thus "and" is ok.

[RonPurewal]

2/Is the "staying..." part used correctly? What does it modifies? the "As..." part or the "this results" part.

In which answer choice(s)?

[RonPurewal]

leaching, the recovery of copper from the drainage water of mines, as a method of the extraction of minerals, it was well established as early as the eighteenth century, but until about 25 years ago miners did not realize that bacteria taken an active part in the process.

(A) as a method of the extraction of minerals, it was well established
(B) as a method of the extraction of minerals well established
(C) was a well-established method of mineral extraction
(D) was a well-established method of extracting mineral that was
(E) had been a method of mineral extraction, well established

Thanks a lot!

I think it's safe to assume that you pasted this problem here by accident, since it doesn't seem to have anything to do with your questions here.
If you actually do have questions about this problem, please find an existing thread and post them there. Thanks.

[ZHUOC614]

Thanks a ton for your explanation for my first quetion and I can understand these relations fully : )

My second questions is relating to choice A. I am wondering how can I identify wheter there are such errors as there are two possible modifier target for a modifier--sometimes known as "squinting modifier"(I do not mean to say I love terms, but I just find it difficult to describe such kind of error in my own words).

The question is a misplaced copy, so please just kindly ignore it:)

Thanks in advance!

[RonPurewal]

You shouldn't need to find such things. There will be other issues.