The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on

[CrystalSpringston]

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms.


A. systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms
B. systems; for example, artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that could prevent hurricanes from forming
C. systems, such as hurricanes, which artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms prevent forming
D. systems, such as artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that can prevent hurricanes from forming
E.systems; for example, hurricanes could be prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms

The OA is E. I am convinced by the explanation except for D.
In D, the explanation says "The construction such as artificial "reefs" illogically implies that artificial reefs are weather systems". why cannot such as refer to "as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping"?
Or is there a rule that such as should always modify the noun preceding it closely?
Thank you!

[Chelsey Cooley]

'such as...' is indeed a modifier. Although there isn't a rule per se that says 'such as' has to modify the thing right next to it, one rule of noun modifiers is that they have to be as close as possible to the thing they modify. Specifically, other nouns shouldn't come between a modifier and the noun it's modifying, with very few exceptions. Look out for this whenever you see a noun modifier!

[CrystalSpringston]

'such as...' is indeed a modifier. Although there isn't a rule per se that says 'such as' has to modify the thing right next to it, one rule of noun modifiers is that they have to be as close as possible to the thing they modify. Specifically, other nouns shouldn't come between a modifier and the noun it's modifying, with very few exceptions. Look out for this whenever you see a noun modifier!

Thank you Chelsey.

[aflaamM589]

'such as...' is indeed a modifier. Although there isn't a rule per se that says 'such as' has to modify the thing right next to it, one rule of noun modifiers is that they have to be as close as possible to the thing they modify. Specifically, other nouns shouldn't come between a modifier and the noun it's modifying, with very few exceptions. Look out for this whenever you see a noun modifier!

Are there any exceptions other than that and which?
According to my understanding, that and which have the flexibility to stand for nouns that are not preceded immediately but are parts of prepositional phrases.

On the other hand who or whose do not have this flexibility, even though they are also noun modifiers.

For instance in the following problem, A,B and C can be crossed off because whose does not have the flexibility as that or which has to stand for a noun that is a little far away(in the prepositional phrase )

Many daring vacationers who participate in guided boat tours on the Tarcoles River encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peeking out from the surface of the murky water.

A)encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peeking out
B)encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peek out
C)had encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peek out
D)encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, with eyes and noses peeking out
E)encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, with eyes and noses that are peeking out

Is my understanding correct?
Thanks

[JacobW468]

Can some one better explain this answer (OA is E). I understand there needs to be an independent sentence after the semi-colon (knock off A & B) and we need "from" in the "prevent from X-ing" idiom (knock off C). However, to eliminate D, it seems like a lot of extra items/concepts for one question/answer (can vs could and illogical meaning).

Also, for the illogical meaning, it seems pretty clear the reefs are modifying "as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping." Can I get a further explanation here?

Also, when using "such as" I often see a list (i.e. "...such as math, science and biology..."), is there a tendency we could/should look for when comparing "like", "as", and "such as"?

[RobinG157]

We can easily eliminate A, C and D. Can somebody please explain why E is correct and B not.

Please help.

[SudhirP233]

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms.

The sentences on either side of the semicolon have to be standalone. However in the first sentence I'm unable to locate the subject and the working verb.The sentence looks like a fragment.

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Cheers

[cgentry]

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms.

The sentences on either side of the semicolon have to be standalone. However in the first sentence I'm unable to locate the subject and the working verb.The sentence looks like a fragment.

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Cheers

The first standalone sentence is "The ...field...centers...". Note that you begin the sentence with a noun "complex". I don't know if that's an official grammar term, but it's the way I describe a noun with attached essential modifiers: it's not just "the field", it's "the emerging field". When a sentence does this, that noun will almost certainly be either (a) the subject of the sentence, or (b) a lead-in modifier that's separate from the subject by a comma.

You have construction (a) in this sentence.

Just FYI, and example of construction (b) would be the following:

A diligent student, Michael always reviewed every problem thoroughly.

[Gui]

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms.


A. systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms
B. systems; for example, artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that could prevent hurricanes from forming
C. systems, such as hurricanes, which artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms prevent forming
D. systems, such as artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that can prevent hurricanes from forming
E.systems; for example, hurricanes could be prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms

The OA is E. I am convinced by the explanation except for D.
In D, the explanation says "The construction such as artificial "reefs" illogically implies that artificial reefs are weather systems". why cannot such as refer to "as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping"?
Or is there a rule that such as should always modify the noun preceding it closely?
Thank you!

Does the use of "which" in choice C is right? "Which" in this case is modifying hurricanes or systems? Tks!

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

In answer C, 'which' is modifying hurricanes. The general principle for noun modifiers is to place them as close as possible to the noun that they're modifying so that it's clear what they're modifying. The real problem with C is that the 'which' modifier is not constructed clearly: there's a verb tense issue and the idiom 'prevent forming' is also incorrect.

[RAHULS852]

Hi Sage/ Manhattan expert,

I am not able to understand the problem of "can" in choice D.

Regards,
Rahul Singh

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

Rahul, I don't understand your question. What's the 'problem of "can" in answer D' that you're referring to?

[RAHULS852]

Actually initially i was confused with "can" in D but now I got the point.

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms.

According to highlighted portion Architecture is not developed but in D"can" is giving meaning that architecture(reefs) already exists.

Thanks for your post.( After your post I read this problem again and then I got the meaning.)

Regards,
Rahul Singh

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

Good to hear that.