Japan’s abundant rainfall and the typically mild temperature throughout most of the country have produced a lush vegetation cover and, despite the mountainous terrain and generally poor soils, it has made possible the raising of a variety of crops.
A) it has made possible the raising of
B) has made possible for them to raise
C) have made it possible to raise
D) have made it possible for raising
E) thus making it possible for them to raise
What does this question test?
This question tests your ability to identify punctuation errors related to connecting two independent clauses. It also identifies fragment errors. In any sentence, one must be able to spot all SV-pairs. It also tests your understanding of pronoun reference.
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What does the sentence mean?
This sentence states that Japan’s climatic conditions have produced a lush vegetation cover. Also, despite the fact that Japan as such has mountainous terrain and poor soils, the climactic conditions have made it possible to grow a variety of crops.
What are the errors in the original sentence?
- Clause 1: Japan’s abundant rainfall and the typically mild temperature throughout most of the country have produced a lush vegetation cover and,
- Clause 2: despite the mountainous terrain and generally poor soils, it has made possible the raising of a variety of crops.
1: Punctuation Error in connecting the two clauses: Note that both clauses 1 & 2 are independent clauses. They should be connected using comma + FANBOYS or semicolon. However, in this case they are connected using only “and”. And hence this sentence is incorrect.
2: Pronoun-Antecedent Number Error: In clause 2, the pronoun “it” refers to plural antecedent – rainfall and mild temperature. Thus, this pronoun should be “they”. On similar lines the verb “has” should be “have” to agree with plural subject – they.
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Answer Choice Analysis
Choice B – This choice has 2 errors as shown below:
1: SV-Number error – The construction of this choice is such that clause 2 has been reduced to verb for the subject in clause 1. Thus, this verb – has made – should agree in number with the plural subject – rainfall and temperature.
2: Pronoun Reference Error – This choice uses the pronoun “them”. Logically it refers to the Japanese people but since this noun is not explicitly stated in the sentence, this pronoun has reference error.
Choice C – No errors
Choice D – Idiom Error. From the meaning of this sentence, it is clear that the two stated climactic factors have made it possible TO raise the crops. This choice has idiom error as it pertains the usage of correct expression with possible. The correct idiomatic usage is “possible to verb”. Many times “possible for” is also used but in that case the complete correct expression is “possible for someone or something to verb”. See this post for more details on the same.
Choice E – This choice has 2 errors as shown below:
1: Parallelism Error – This choice results in the following sentence skeleton. Noun verb object and, thus making…This sentence has parallelism error. The presence of word “and” implies that there should be another verb in the list. But the other entity is verb-ing form instead of the verb form.
2: Pronoun Reference Error as in Choice B.
Thus, choice C is the correct answer.
What are the key takeaway messages?
- The correct idiom with possible is “possible to verb” or “possible for someone or something to verb”.
- Independent clauses must be connected appropriately.
- Pronoun should refer to a noun that is explicitly stated in the sentence.
Where can you find more information?
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