* SC: The En

[sanyalpritish]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to place restrictions on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, saying that the move will exacerbate the nation’s fuel supply problems.
A. on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, saying
B. on both diesel fuel and engines have sparked the oil industry to counterattack, and they say
C. on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, which says
D. both on diesel fuel and engines has sparked the oil industry to a counterattack, saying
E. both on diesel fuel and diesel engines have sparked the oil industry to counterattack, and it says

GMAT Question
OA-C
The confusion is usage of "which" it is referring to oil industry according to GMAT the closest noun, but it should refer to proposal.
In A "saying" is a Issue but Which is more of a problem in understand

[parthatayi]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to place restrictions on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, saying that the move will exacerbate the nation’s fuel supply problems.
A. on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, saying
B. on both diesel fuel and engines have sparked the oil industry to counterattack, and they say
C. on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry, which says
D. both on diesel fuel and engines has sparked the oil industry to a counterattack, saying
E. both on diesel fuel and diesel engines have sparked the oil industry to counterattack, and it says

GMAT Question
OA-C
The confusion is usage of "which" it is referring to oil industry according to GMAT the closest noun, but it should refer to proposal.
In A "saying" is a Issue but Which is more of a problem in understand

"which" should refer to the oil industry because it is the oil industry which says that the move aggravates the nation’s fuel supply problems.

You can also refer to the below url:
that-vs-which-t5730.html

Thanks and Regards,
Partha.

[RonPurewal]

The confusion is usage of "which" it is referring to oil industry according to GMAT the closest noun, but it should refer to proposal.
In A "saying" is a Issue but Which is more of a problem in understand

choice (a) uses a COMMA + -ING modifier -- a very common construction -- and uses it incorrectly.

the short version:
COMMA + -ING modifiers modify the ENTIRE PRECEDING CLAUSE (including the subject of that clause).

the long version:
see here
post30766.html#p30766

...so, according to this COMMA + ING modifier, it is actually "The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal" that is "saying that the move will exacerbate the nation’s fuel supply problems", while (or because of) sparking a counterattack by the oil industry.

that doesn't make sense.

--

re: (c)

actually, "which" should indeed refer to the oil industry, because the oil industry is saying that the proposal will exacerbate the nation's fuel supply problems.
this is a response to the proposal, not the content of the proposal itself.

so, "which" is used totally correctly here.

[srihariom]

Hi Ron,

I was able to get to the correct answer for this question but i need a clarification.

Option C
"on both diesel fuel and diesel engines has sparked a counterattack by the oil industry,which says"

When we use "on both diesel fuel and diesel engines ", doesn't this mean 2 diesel fuels and diesel engines?

Whereas "both on" would refer to diesel fuels and diesel engines?

Thanks
Srihari

[RonPurewal]

it has come to my attention that this problem is most likely not from the official gmat prep software. this particular folder on our forum is specifically for problems from that software; if this problem is from another source, we will have to (a) delete the thread or (b) move it to the general verbal folder, IF the source is one of our allowed sources.

so, please do the following:

IF this problem is actually from the OFFICIAL GMAT PREP SOFTWARE, please post a screenshot. if you don't know how to post screenshots directly on the forum (i don't either), then post one to an image hosting site such as postimage.org and then post the link here.

IF the problem is from another source, then please give the source. if the source is allowable on our forum, then we will move this thread to the appropriate folder.

if neither of these actions is taken in the next 3-5 days, we will delete this thread. thanks.

[leel961]

Please feel free to correct me , because i know that i have misconceptions.

In my opinion, only the living object, such as people, can "say" something...

So, how does the Oil industry "say"? the Oil industry is just a concept or a thing that does not have life

[RonPurewal]

Please feel free to correct me , because i know that i have misconceptions.

In my opinion, only the living object, such as people, can "say" something...

So, how does the Oil industry "say"? the Oil industry is just a concept or a thing that does not have life

governments, companies, organizations, etc. can also say things.

[RonPurewal]

just think about perfectly ordinary sentences, like this one:
During the past year the IRS has announced several new regulations concerning xxxxx.

there is certainly nothing wrong with this sentence (which, moreover, is impossible to re-write with a human subject).