A prep SC question: single locusts are quiet creatures

[77044388]

According to entomologists, single locusts are quiet creatures, but when locusts are placed with others of their species, they become excited, change color, vibrate, and even hum.

A. when locusts are placed with others of their species,
B. when placing them with others of their species, then
C. locusts, when placed with others of their species,
D. placing them with others of their species,
E. placed with others of their species, then

OA is A, but I do not understand why E is wrong. It seems E is more concise than A and does not distort the meaning. Ron, would you please explain to me, thanks!

[RonPurewal]

According to entomologists, single locusts are quiet creatures, but when locusts are placed with others of their species, they become excited, change color, vibrate, and even hum.

A. when locusts are placed with others of their species,
B. when placing them with others of their species, then
C. locusts, when placed with others of their species,
D. placing them with others of their species,
E. placed with others of their species, then

OA is A, but I do not understand why E is wrong. It seems E is more concise than A and does not distort the meaning. Ron, would you please explain to me, thanks!

The original subject is "single locusts".

The second part of the sentence doesn't describe single locusts. The subject of choice E is still "single locusts", so E is nonsense.

The appearance of "locusts" in choice A is NOT "less concise"; it's actually necessary, to specify that we're now discussing the behavior of locusts in general, not single locusts.

[77044388]

got it, thanks a lot!

[RonPurewal]

You're welcome.

[momo32]

According to entomologists, single locusts are quiet creatures, but when locusts are placed with others of their species, they become excited, change color, vibrate, and even hum.

A. when locusts are placed with others of their species,
B. when placing them with others of their species, then
C. locusts, when placed with others of their species,
D. placing them with others of their species,
E. placed with others of their species, then

OA is A, but I do not understand why E is wrong. It seems E is more concise than A and does not distort the meaning. Ron, would you please explain to me, thanks!

The original subject is "single locusts".

The second part of the sentence doesn't describe single locusts. The subject of choice E is still "single locusts", so E is nonsense.

The appearance of "locusts" in choice A is NOT "less concise"; it's actually necessary, to specify that we're now discussing the behavior of locusts in general, not single locusts.

Dear Ron，

The second part of the sentence doesn't describe single locusts. The subject of choice E is still "single locusts", so E is nonsense.

You mean that placed is modifying single locuster?

Defense attorneys have argued that their clients' misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested, but in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy, the perpetrators...

In the bove example, attributing modifies the perpetrators.

Please correct me!
THX

[RonPurewal]

You mean that placed is modifying single locuster?

it's modifying "they", but "they" refers to single locusts (because nothing else is there).

[theclubmember]

Dear Ron,
Can we use "they" instead of "locusts" in the choice A? If so, then why does the answer choice find it necessary to repeat the word?
Thanks!

[RonPurewal]

Dear Ron,
Can we use "they" instead of "locusts" in the choice A? If so, then why does the answer choice find it necessary to repeat the word?
Thanks!

please read the thread.

this is the original poster's question; my answer is the second post.

[theclubmember]

Dear Ron,
Can we use "they" instead of "locusts" in the choice A? If so, then why does the answer choice find it necessary to repeat the word?
Thanks!

please read the thread.

this is the original poster's question; my answer is the second post.

Somehow I missed it when I read it first time. It is now clear after going over it very carefully. Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

excellent.

[ShashankB122]

Hi Ron,

I have doubt regarding usage of "when" in option A. I learnt that when can be used for real time (calendar date etc).

I chose D.
Kindly clarify.

[RonPurewal]

if you're saying that "when" MUST represent a fixed point on a calendar, then you're just memorizing arbitrary rules without checking them against your real-life knowledge of the language.

when it comes to meaning issues, ALWAYS test "rules" against EASY, BASIC sentences. if the "rules" don't align with those easy examples, toss them out.

e.g.,
There are more accidents on the freeway when it rains.
^^ this is a perfectly good sentence. moreover, i would bet thousands of dollars that you know this is a perfectly good sentence.
if the "rule" above were valid, then this sentence would be incorrect. the sentence clearly isn't incorrect, so the "rule" is bunkum.

[RonPurewal]

also, i wrote a quick summary of "when" here:
usage-of-when-t30413.html#p104604

[qianruS779]

Hi Instructor,

Could someone explain why choices C and B are wrong?

Thank you very much

Best, Song

[RonPurewal]

B
"...When placing them with others of their species, they [locusts] become excited..."
this implies that the locusts are "placing" THEMSELVES. nope.
(also, even if this were the intended meaning, the sentence still wouldn't work because "themselves" would be needed in place of "them".)