The features of the floor of the Kasei

[tankobe]

The features of the floor of the Kasei Valles on Mars look just like those at the base of Antarctic ice streams, so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that carved the giant Martian channels previously attributed to cataclysmic floods.

(A) so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that
(B) a suggestion that flowing ice may have
(C) to suggest flowing ice as possibly having
(D) suggesting that flowing ice may have
(E) which is suggestive of flowing ice having possibly
OA is D (highlight to reveal)
what is the difference between may and possibly?
i have seen lots of question involving the issue----whenever the underlined part give you a possibly, the correct option will change it into may/could/can.

[devneeetbajaj]

OA please?

[RonPurewal]

The features of the floor of the Kasei Valles on Mars look just like those at the base of Antarctic ice streams, so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that carved the giant Martian channels previously attributed to cataclysmic floods.

(A) so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that
(B) a suggestion that flowing ice may have
(C) to suggest flowing ice as possibly having
(D) suggesting that flowing ice may have
(E) which is suggestive of flowing ice having possibly
OA is D
what is the difference between may and possibly?
i have seen lots of question involving the issue----whenever the underlined part give you a possibly, the correct option will change it into may/could/can.

like the other problems you've posted with the same issue, this problem does not depend on the difference between "may" and "possibly". neither of these words is unidiomatic on its own, so you will always need more clues to settle a split between the two.

in this case, the only modifier that is both sensible and grammatical is (d), which, by the way, is an absolutely perfect example of a COMMA + -ING adverbial modifier.

[tankobe]

The features of the floor of the Kasei Valles on Mars look just like those at the base of Antarctic ice streams, so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that carved the giant Martian channels previously attributed to cataclysmic floods.

(A) so it suggests that possibly it was flowing ice that
(B) a suggestion that flowing ice may have
(C) to suggest flowing ice as possibly having
(D) suggesting that flowing ice may have
(E) which is suggestive of flowing ice having possibly
OA is D
what is the difference between may and possibly?
i have seen lots of question involving the issue----whenever the underlined part give you a possibly, the correct option will change it into may/could/can.

like the other problems you've posted with the same issue, this problem does not depend on the difference between "may" and "possibly". neither of these words is unidiomatic on its own, so you will always need more clues to settle a split between the two.

in this case, the only modifier that is both sensible and grammatical is (d), which, by the way, is an absolutely perfect example of a COMMA + -ING adverbial modifier.

Ron, roger!

[jessie-cn2007]

Ron,
Could you please explain why B is incorrect? I assume that "a suggestion..." is the appositive of the preceding sentence.
Thanks~

[RonPurewal]

Ron,
Could you please explain why B is incorrect? I assume that "a suggestion..." is the appositive of the preceding sentence.
Thanks~

you could read that as an appositive, but there's a problem: namely, that appositive is not a literally correct description.

if you're going to use "a suggestion..." as an appositive modifier, then the portion being modified must LITERALLY describe something that is "a suggestion". it's not good enough to describe some neutral fact that might suggest something to an intelligent observer; it must be a literal suggestion.
for instance: james voiced the idea of going out for pizza, a suggestion that was well received by his hungry friends. --> note that this is actually a literal suggestion.

[aicpa.lucas]

I agree with the aforementioned discussion that (B) is grammatically right but not sensibly and logically acceptable. (A) contains two pronouns "it", either of which refers to different antecedents. (C) to suggest.. infinitive can be used as a modifier phrase here; suggest and possibly, in my opinion are sort of redundant for their similar connotation(E), which .. modifier for the antecedent.. but not consistent with the original meaning.

[tim]

Thanks, aicpa!

[iatbitw7]

hi
i have a question about (c)
why to suggest can not use here?

[thanghnvn]

Ron,
Could you please explain why B is incorrect? I assume that "a suggestion..." is the appositive of the preceding sentence.
Thanks~

you could read that as an appositive, but there's a problem: namely, that appositive is not a literally correct description.

if you're going to use "a suggestion..." as an appositive modifier, then the portion being modified must LITERALLY describe something that is "a suggestion". it's not good enough to describe some neutral fact that might suggest something to an intelligent observer; it must be a literal suggestion.
for instance: james voiced the idea of going out for pizza, a suggestion that was well received by his hungry friends. --> note that this is actually a literal suggestion.

Ron, your explanation is correct but I think for me, a non native, it is impossible to realize whether the previous sentence in B is a suggestion literally when I am in the test room. Do you have any skill helping realize the ilogicness in B. ?

[jnelson0612]

hi
i have a question about (c)
why to suggest can not use here?

If I use the infinitive "to" the construction implies intent.

For example:
I exercise every day to lead to better health.
INTENT: I am exercising to accomplish something.
vs.
I exercise every day, leading to better health.
RESULT: my health improves because I exercise

Here there is no intent. This is a natural phenomenon that naturally results in something else. That's why the verb+ING form is appropriate; this form often shows the result of something else.

[jnelson0612]

Ron,
Could you please explain why B is incorrect? I assume that "a suggestion..." is the appositive of the preceding sentence.
Thanks~

you could read that as an appositive, but there's a problem: namely, that appositive is not a literally correct description.

if you're going to use "a suggestion..." as an appositive modifier, then the portion being modified must LITERALLY describe something that is "a suggestion". it's not good enough to describe some neutral fact that might suggest something to an intelligent observer; it must be a literal suggestion.
for instance: james voiced the idea of going out for pizza, a suggestion that was well received by his hungry friends. --> note that this is actually a literal suggestion.

Ron, your explanation is correct but I think for me, a non native, it is impossible to realize whether the previous sentence in B is a suggestion literally when I am in the test room. Do you have any skill helping realize the ilogicness in B. ?

Are you sure? If you know what a suggestion is you should be able to recognize one when you read one. :-) Give it a little thought . . . I suspect that you are selling yourself short. It's clear that no one is suggesting anything here. This is just a rule about the word "suggestion" that you will need to flashcard and memorize.

[AbhilashM94]

Ron,
Could you please explain why B is incorrect? I assume that "a suggestion..." is the appositive of the preceding sentence.
Thanks~

you could read that as an appositive, but there's a problem: namely, that appositive is not a literally correct description.

if you're going to use "a suggestion..." as an appositive modifier, then the portion being modified must LITERALLY describe something that is "a suggestion". it's not good enough to describe some neutral fact that might suggest something to an intelligent observer; it must be a literal suggestion.
for instance: james voiced the idea of going out for pizza, a suggestion that was well received by his hungry friends. --> note that this is actually a literal suggestion.

Ron,

I was stuck between B & E.

In B, isn't A SUGGESTION abstract modifier, like the example below

The coach put 2 guys in front, a strategy that failed.

[RonPurewal]

It can be an abstraction, but it still has to describe what's written there.

In your (correct) example, "putting 2 guys in front" is a strategy, so "a strategy" is an appropriate modifier.

The suggestion that we should go out for pizza is a suggestion.

If I write My blood glucose level is low, suggesting that I should eat, it's incorrect to use "a suggestion". A blood glucose level can suggest something, but the level itself is not a suggestion.

[Khush]

Hi Ron,

Does, in the non-underlined part of the sentence , "those" refer to "the features" or to "the features of the floor" ?

In one of your posts, you had explained that "those" stands for exact nouns without any attached descriptions or modifiers.