Confusing SC: When computer hackers released the “I Love You

[direstraits007]

When computer hackers released the "I Love You" virus in 2000, it raced around the world deleted music files and images, as well as raiding email addresses to multiply itself and send itself and other emails onward.

A) deleted music files and images, as well as raiding email addresses
B) deleted music files and images, as well as raided email addresses
C) deleting music files and images, as well as raiding email addresses
D) deleting music files and images, as well as raided email addresses
E) to delete music files and images, as well as to raid email addresses

Source: Princeton test

I'm confused b/w C and E. I marked it E. But the OA is C.

The only reason I didn't choose C is the phrase "deleting music files...." seems to modify the world because it is placed next to it. If there were a comma in the main sentence as shown below, then I think C would have make sense.

When computer hackers released the "I Love You" virus in 2000, it raced around the world, deleting music files and images, as well as raiding email addresse to multiply itself and send itself and other emails onward.

Here in this edited sentence with option C embedded, I added "comma" before the "deleting music..". So in this case the phrase "deleting music.." is modifying the virus. (which make sense).

But without comma option C seems to modify the "world". So I still go with the option E.

Please correct me if I m wrong.

Thanks.

GeeMate!

[kartik1979]

deleting here acts as adverbial modifier, modifying the entire clause before it and hence does not modify "world" only

[direstraits007]

deleting here acts as adverbial modifier, modifying the entire clause before it and hence does not modify "world" only

I Agree! But I think it would make more sense if it were preceded by a comma. Then the structure will be of COMMA + -ING modifier (which will act as an adverbial modifier).


Thanks!

GeeMate.

[RonPurewal]

hi - i posted on the other thread, too.

i completely agree with you here: the modifier SHOULD be preceded by a comma.

in fact, there's a clear demarcation:
* if the -ING modifier is preceded by a comma, then it should modify the entire preceding clause;
* if the -ING modifier is NOT preceded by a comma, then it should modify the preceding NOUN.

for instance, check out #71 in the eleventh edition OG. in the correct answer to that problem, there is one of each of these types of -ING modifiers, so that you can witness the difference in usage.

[shikhaj974]

C is correct . But what is wrong with B ? all the verbs are in Option B are in past tense...Is there something like main activity and subsidiary acivities ?

[RonPurewal]

"it raced around the world deleted..."

that's not a sentence. you can't just stick two verbs back-to-back like that; you need a connector ("and", "but", etc.)

e.g.,
My cousin works in the energy industry lives in Texas is not a sentence.
My cousin works in the energy industry and lives in Texas is a sentence.