SC Question

[poonamchiK]

According to some experts, carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly, largely because of the burning of fossil fuels, that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison will double by the end of the next century.

b. should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison
c. should the present rate of buildup be continued, the global concentration of this poison
d. the global concentration of this poison, were the present rate of buildup continue
e. that the global concentration of this poison, if the present rate of buildup did continue.

What do u think is the answer?

I thought it was (b)
Bt the correct ans is a.
poonamchik@gmail.com

[abhishek.pitti]

Good Question!!

I was stumped when i first read it but the more I read it, I realized that it seems like you do need a that before comma as the text after 'that' reflect the prediction by the experts....

I am not positive about the usage of 'should' but I am not sure if you can create a subordinate clause which if you donot have 'that', it will modify the global concentration and will seem like we are starting a new statement after comma.

Rewriting the sentence to make my point:

According to some experts, carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison will double by the end of the next century.

'Largely because of the burning of fossil fuels' is modifying 'carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly' but i donno what category of modifier does it fall into.

Hope this helps.

-Abhi

[pawan_chitturu]

the question can be simplified to:
so "X" that "Y"
therefore we can eliminate b, c & d

between "A" and "E"; "A" is much precise while "E" is ackward

experts can explain much better

[Ben Ku]

Please cite the source (author) of this problem. We cannot reply unless a source is cited (and, if no source is cited, we will have to delete the post!). Thanks.