A March 2000 Census Bureau survey showed that Mexico accounted for more than a quarter of all foreign-born residents of the United States, the largest share for any country to contribute since 1890, when about 30 percent of the country’s foreign-born population was from Germany.
Meaning Analysis
- A March 2000 Census Bureau survey showed
- that Mexico accounted for more than a quarter of all foreign-born residents of the United States,
The sentence states a fact from a particular survey conducted in the year 2000. The survey showed that more than a certain percentage of the US residents born outside the country were from Mexico. Reading further:
- the largest share for any country to contribute since 1890,
- when about 30 percent of the country’s foreign-born population was from Germany.
This portion of the sentence gives us more information about the previously mentioned contribution made by Mexico. We get to know that this contribution had been the largest of its kind since 1890. Before this period, the largest such contribution was from Germany – about 30 percent.
To sum up, the sentence presents some statistics from a particular survey. As per this survey, a considerable portion of the US population born outside the country was from Mexico, the largest contributor since 1890. Before this time period, Germany was the largest contributor in the mentioned segment.
Error Analysis
Modifier Error
The prepositional phrase …for any country to contribute… fails to convey clearly that the contribution by Mexico constitutes the largest share (more than 25%) of the US population born outside the country. The way this section is worded, it seems to suggest that more than a quarter has been the upper limit of such a contribution by any country since 1890 and that the survey says that Mexico reached this upper limit.
However, the sentence wants to convey that the contribution made by Mexico in this segment is the largest since 1890.
POE
Choice A
Incorrect
This choice has the error pointed out in the error analysis.
Choice B
Correct
This choice rectifies the error of Choice A and clearly conveys the intended meaning.
Choice C
Incorrect
1. Modifier Error
This choice repeats the modifier error of Choice A.
2. Pronoun Error
The relative pronoun modifier which has been incorrectly used to refer to an action – the action of Mexico accounting for a certain proportion of foreign-born population.
Choice D
Incorrect
Modifier Error
In this option, the verb-ing modifier having the largest share modifies the preceding clause “Mexico accounted for…”.
According to this sentence, having the largest share happened first and then Mexico accounted for more than a quarter of foreign-born residents happened. This sequence of events is illogical and is not consistent with the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Choice E
Incorrect
Modifier Error
This choice repeats the having the largest share modifier error of Choice D.
