Modifier- Does it modify the immediately preceeding noun ?

[kameshsubramanian]

Q-14- Test1
Q-14

(A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses

(B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses

(C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies

(D According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses

(E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses

The original sentence is clear, and is phrased in the most economical way.

(A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The phrase "actually increases" has a stronger meaning than the author intended - that high vitamin E consumption "may actually increase" certain risks.

(C) The phrasing of "certain illnesses may be at a higher risk" is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It is not the illnesses that are at higher risk, but rather people who consume too much vitamin E. In addition, the placement of the modifying phrase "according to recent studies" is awkward, seemingly referring to a "balanced diet" when it should be modifying vitamin E intake. Finally, "if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet" should read "if vitamin E is taken in excess of that (vitamin E) found naturally in a balanced diet."

(D) "The intake of vitamin E...may actually increase developing certain illnesses" is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It would be more accurate to state that excess intake of vitamin E may increase the risk of developing certain illnesses. Even if this choice had the correct meaning, the choice of words would still have been faulty: it should read "increase the development of certain illnesses" not "increase developing certain illnesses."

(E) "Vitamin E...may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses" is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It would be more accurate to state that excess intake of vitamin E may actually increase the risk. Additionally, "the development risk of certain illnesses" is misleading; it should be "the risk of (a person) developing certain illnesses."


My Query is regarding Choice C-Though it is wrong for other reasons-how does it modify only balanced diet- shouldnt it modify the entire clause prior to it and not just balanced diet.

[mschwrtz]

Is this a GMATPrep question? Whose explanations are these?

[kameshsubramanian]

Yes. This is a gmat prep question from Manhattan tutorial. The explanations are given by the tutorial.

[mschwrtz]

OK. GmatPrep refers to the software of that name you get free from GMAC. Questions about our CATS go in a different forum, to which I will redirect this question.

Now, about C, Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies.

When you write how does it modify only balanced diet- shouldnt it modify the entire clause prior to it and not just balanced diet, by it do you mean the phrase according to recent studies? Perhaps our explanation is..ahem..infelicitous. Yes, an -ing word following a comma almost always modifies the preceding clause, or the verb in that clause. The trouble is that vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet is the preceding clause, but not the clause we want to see modified. As you point out (I think), the clause we want to see modified is ...illnesses may be....