Since 1975 so many people

[RonPurewal]

Since 1975 so many people have been moving to Utah such that Mormons who were once 75 percent of the population are now only accounting for half of it.

A. so many people have been moving to Utah such that Mormons who were once 75 percent of the population are now only accounting for half of it

B. many people have been moving to Utah, so Mormons once 75 percent of the population are now accounting for only half

C. that many people have been moving to Utah, such that the Mormons that were once 75 percent of the population are now accounting for only half of it

D. many people have been moving to Utah such that the Mormons, who once represented 75 percent of the population, now only account for half

E. so many people have been moving to Utah that the Mormons, who once represented 75 percent of the population, now account for only half

even if in B, comma appears before and after "once 75 percent...population", B is wrong because

Mormons are 75 percent of population

is wrong

appositive is wrong here.

is my thinking correct?

no, that's incorrect. that description contains "once" -- indicating that the fact was once true, but is no longer true in the timeframe of the sentence -- so it's fine.

e.g.,
New York, once called New Amsterdam, is the largest city in the United States.
--> also correct: NY was once called New Amsterdam, but isn't anymore.

[jmuduke08]

C. that many people have been moving to Utah, such that the Mormons that were once 75 percent of the population are now accounting for only half of it


* most obvious problem: you can't use "which" for people.


Forgive me if I am missing something but where in this example is the word which?

[tim]

Ron meant "that", not "which". Both are true of course, but I understand how you could be puzzled when "which" didn't show up in the answer choice. :)

[jmuduke08]

Ron meant "that", not "which". Both are true of course, but I understand how you could be puzzled when "which" didn't show up in the answer choice. :)

Thanks Tim, I am going to try ask a follow up without making it confusing. In answer choice C (which is wrong), the word "that" is listed twice. Which one is the one that is describing people albeit incorrectly?

[tim]

The *third* "that" (look closely) in answer choice C is referring to the Mormons.

[jmuduke08]

The *third* "that" (look closely) in answer choice C is referring to the Mormons.

ty Tim for my rookie mistake

[tim]

Is my response to this supposed to be "yw"? :)

Looks like you've got it sorted out; let us know if you have any further questions!

[bruno.shinjo]

C. that many people have been moving to Utah, such that the Mormons that were once 75 percent of the population are now accounting for only half of it

* the "that" at the beginning is ungrammatical.

Hi Ron!

I'm feeling that I'm not recalling a good fundamental to evaluate this quote. Can you please help me figure it out? Is a general rule to classify "ungrammatical" the usage of "that" to begin phrases? Or is just in this specific problem? What are the specific fundamentals that lead to such judgment (e.g.: pronoun reference, modifier, run-on sentence)?

[RonPurewal]

I can't help you with terminology, because I don't know it. But, you can't use "that" as an adjective unless it refers to something else in the sentence.
E.g., I have 10 pairs of sneakers, but my friend Mike has more than three times that many.
(I.e., Mike has more than 30 pairs of sneakers.)

[Tadashi]

May I know why B is wrong?
Is there sth. wrong with "only half" at the end of the choice B?

If I change B into "so Mormons once 75 percent of the population are now accounting for only half of it.", then will the revised sentence be correct?

Thanks for your effort in advance.
Tadashi.

[tim]

For your first question, please read the entire thread as your question has been answered.

For the second question, I would caution you against ever asking "what if" questions about changing parts of verbal questions, because there are often several interconnected parts that cannot be fully accounted for by a single change. Just focus on why the right answer is right and why all the wrong answers are wrong.

[eggpain24]

well，there is an additional and very obvious error in this question

in choice A & D

the pronoun ”it“（ intended to refer to ”population“）

but ”it“can only refer to 75 percent of the population

[tim]

Not necessarily. Don't be so quick to assume something *has* to be the way you interpret it.

[RonPurewal]

the pronoun ”it“（ intended to refer to ”population“）

but ”it“can only refer to 75 percent of the population

Not true.

What makes you think this is true (and "obvious")?

[RonPurewal]

P.S., The last nine times a forum poster has called something "obvious", the poster has been wrong.
Yes, I've been counting.
9 of the last 9.

Don't use words like "obvious". You always lose.

• If you're actually correct, then you gain nothing——and you risk insulting other forum visitors, to whom the thing in question may not be "obvious".

• If you're incorrect, you'll just embarrass yourself.