Can someone please help me with this!

by Aj Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:45 am

In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
(A) In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
(B) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in assessing the problems that they face.
(C) A question that is irrelevant in assessing the problems that rural migrant workers face is whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor.
(D) In an assessment of the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
(E) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in an assessment of the problems that they face.

Can somebody provide the answer with explanation... Thanks!

by **zram84** Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:21 am

I would pick up D for it essentially looks like one between D and E and E is unsure abt whose problems are being assessed

by H Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:54 am

A: the question cannot "assess" a problem.
B, E: "they" refers to "the problems".
C: Hard to understand each clauses modifies what.

by **justdoit** Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:24 pm

Why do u think that in D they does not refers to problems?

by **RonPurewal** Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:02 am

there's already some info about this problem here.

as far as the pronoun ambiguity, note that EVERY answer choice with a sensible pronoun has the same ambiguity problem (i.e., the pronoun "they" is there, and so are "workers" and "problems").
because the problem is present in every grammatically possible answer choice, you can just grin and ignore it.
(yes, this annoys me too. but it's not our test - it's theirs, and they make the rules.)