Using technology as new as space-age fabrics

[soundok]

Using technology as new as space-age fabrics and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over fort mchenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping that it will then last another 200 years.

A.and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over fort mchenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping

B.and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over fort mchenry in Baltimore in 1814,hoping

The Answer is B. But B changed the meaning of the original sentence. "Hoping" was changed to be the verb of the sentence instead of an adv.

In what kind of condition, the original meaning of the sentence should be changed?

If I change A to be "attempting to clean and preserve...", is A right?

[JonathanSchneider]

I think you've stated it backwards. It seems as though A give us "hope" as a verb, while B gives us "hoping" as an adverb. Regardless, your question is a good one.

Keep in mind the priority for SC:

Grammar
Meaning
Concision

If a choice violates proper grammar, it is WRONG.

Moreover, we can change the meaning of the sentence when the given meaning is clearly at odds with the INTENDED meaning. Remember, your job is not to preserve the meaning of Answer Choice A, but rather to clarify, if necessary, the INTENDED meaning. The meaning is not clearly expressed in A. Are the scientists really hoping "in their attempt"? Not exactly. Their attempt shows that they are hoping, certainly. In addition, "at cleaning" is the wrong idiom; we want "to clean" here.

Takeaways:
1) slight changes in meaning are okay when we need to satisfy proper grammar.
2) don't get overly stuck on the meaning of A; it's the INTENDED meaning of A that we're after. If A is unclear as to the meaning, we need to correct.

[soundok]

Are the scientists really hoping "in their attempt"?

I can not work out the meaning of this sentence? could you explain? Thank you.

[RonPurewal]

i wrote an extensive treatment of this precise topic here.

[manhhiep2509]

Hi instructors.

In correct choice, I find "hoping ..." does not match the preceding clause. I mean I does not find the connection between "attempt to do xxxx" and "hope yyyy" to justify the use of the structure "comma + v-ing".

Please comment whether my interpretation is correct.

[RonPurewal]

Hi instructors.

In correct choice, I find "hoping ..." does not match the preceding clause. I mean I does not find the connection between "attempt to do xxxx" and "hope yyyy" to justify the use of the structure "comma + v-ing".

Please comment whether my interpretation is correct.

Think a little more about the context here. What's the motivation behind trying to clean and preserve the flag?

[eggpain24]

Hi instructors.

In correct choice, I find "hoping ..." does not match the preceding clause. I mean I does not find the connection between "attempt to do xxxx" and "hope yyyy" to justify the use of the structure "comma + v-ing".

Please comment whether my interpretation is correct.

Think a little more about the context here. What's the motivation behind trying to clean and preserve the flag?

exactly what I am also thinking. Haha

Ron~

I am wondering the mistake committed by choice A

well, since I am non-native speaker, the idiom is a great hurdle for me (but I also eliminated the choice on other grounds)

pronoun issue here is also tricky (so I just left it alone)

I think the mistake in A is that " using XXX" and " are hoping"

the modifier just does not make sense coupled with the main clause..

But it is fixed in choice B

just correct me If I am wrong~

[jnelson0612]

Please read Jonathan's post above. He discusses why A is incorrect.

[thanghnvn]

Pls, explain the meaning relation between "hoping" and main clause. I am not clear about this
thank you

[RonPurewal]

before any further discussion happens, we need the complete text of the problem, including ALL answer choices (as per the forum rules).

thanks.

[aflaamM589]

here is the complete text

Using technology as new as space-age fabrics and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping that it will then last another 200 years.

(A) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians, in their attempt at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, are hoping

(B) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(C) and as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 is being made in the hope

(D) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, scientists and historians who are attempting to clean and preserve the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, hoping

(E) but also as ordinary as common dry-cleaning chemicals, an attempt by scientists and historians at cleaning and preserving the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814 in hopes

Is A also incorrect because at cleaning and preserving conveys the meaning as if scientists and historians themselves are doing the action cleaning and preserving ?

[RonPurewal]

those are exactly the people who are trying to clean and preserve the flag, so, that's certainly not a problem.