Geologists believe that the warning signs for a major earthquake may include sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting and other deformations of the Earth’s crust, changing the measured stain across a fault zone, and varying the electrical properties of underground rocks.
(A) changing the measured strain across a fault zone, and varying
(B) changing measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and varying
(C) changing the strain as measured across a fault zone, and variations of
(D) changes in the measured strain across a fault zone, and variations in
(E) changes in measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and variations among
Look at the "," after tilting. Does that mean anything? I mean is "A, B and C" different from "A, B, and C". Because in the explanation of this question, the question is printed without that "," and I feel that kinda changes the meaning. The parallel structure can be interpreted in 2 ways. First, 3 signs are listed: 1. sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity; 2. tilting; 3. other deformations. And then 2 things that these signs cause. Other way of looking at the parallel structure is 3 signs are: 1. sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting and other deformations 2. changes in the measured strain across a fault zone and 3. variations in the electrical properties of underground rocks. This is the correct one acc to the answer (D). I dunno why this is better than the first one, esp what sense does fluctuations in other deformations make?? I have faced similar problems in other questions i.e. how to interpret the logical parallel structure when it can be done in 2 ways. Can you elaborate on this and the meaning of the ",".
MGAMT CAT3 # 11
Unbiased third-party "clean" teams can protect sensitive data while assessing the business rationale of a deal, helping to develop an integrated business plan, and supporting negotiations.
while assessing the business rationale of a deal, helping to develop an integrated business plan, and supporting
while also assessing the business concerns for a deal, as well as helping the development of an integrated business plan, and to support the
and assess the rationale of a deal from a business perspective, help the development of an integrated business plan, and supporting relevant
while facilitating the assessment of a business rationale of a deal, help to develop a business plan of integration, and supporting the
and assist the assessment of the deal’s business rationale, helping to develop an integrated plan for the business, and support
The original sentence begins with a simple present tense statement, "clean teams can protect sensitive data" that is followed by three verb phrases that are logically parallel in the sentence, and so should be structurally parallel as well. The sentence maintains a parallel construction, using the "-ing" form of each verb (assessing, helping, supporting). Finally, the sentence is clear and concise.
(A) CORRECT. The first choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This sentence unnecessarily introduces the connecting phrases "while also" and "as well as"; these phrases are wordy, not grammatically required, and do not improve the clarity of the sentence. The concluding phrase "to support the negotiations" is not parallel with the earlier verb phrases, and incorrectly uses the article "the," which is unclear given that negotiations were not referenced earlier.
(C) The conjunction "and" joins the first verb phrase with the original statement, which changes the original meaning of the sentence; the correct "while" indicating that the teams can protect sensitive data even while using it. The first and second verb phrases use the simple present tense ("assess" and "help"). However, the last phrase "and supporting relevant negotiations" completely breaks the parallelism and is thus incorrect. Also, this choice is unnecessarily wordy in two ways: It uses the phrase "the rationale of a deal from a business perspective" as opposed to "business rationale" in earlier choices, and it introduces the word "relevant" which adds no meaning, as clearly only relevant negotiations are to be supported.
(D) The second verb phrase, "help to develop a business plan of integration" is structurally not parallel to the equivalent phrases that begin with "facilitating" and "supporting." Also, that phrase is wordier without making the meaning clearer. In addition, this choice incorrectly uses the article "the," which is unclear given that negotiations were not referenced earlier. Finally, this choice is unnecessarily wordy in its use of "facilitating the assessment" in place of simply "assessing."
(E) Here, "helping to develop an integrated plan for the business" is not parallel to "assist" and "support," as it must be. Also, the first verb phrase is awkward in its use of "assist the assessment" and "the deal’s business rationale" where no particular deal is being discussed.
This is another similar exmaple which can be interpreted as (A) or (E). (A): prtocet and assist, <modifier> and support. (E): protect while assisting, helping and supporting. Again there is a "," here. Does that mean anything?[/u]