A 3 min read

Because the collagen fibers in skin line up in the direction of tension, surgical cuts made along these so-called Langer’s lines sever fewer fibers and is less likely to leave an unsightly scar.

 

Meaning Analysis

• Because the collagen fibers in skin line up in the direction of tension,

The sentence begins with the key-word because, suggesting that it will present a reason for something. It says that (as) collagen fibers found in skin are aligned along a particular direction. Let’s read further to know about the effect of this cause.

• surgical cuts made along these so-called Langer’s lines
  • sever fewer fibers and
  • is less likely to leave an unsightly scar.

This part presents the effect of the said alignment of the collagen fibers.  We learn that because of this alignment, during operations, the incisions made along it cut fewer fibers. Also, the chances of ugly marks resulting from such incisions on the skin are also diminished

 

To sum up, the sentence explains that since the collagen fibers are aligned in skin in the direction of tension, during operations, one can note down two effects:

1. incisions made along this alignment cut fewer fibers and
2. these incisions are less likely to leave ugly marks behind. 

 

 

 

SV Must Agree in Number Error

 

The plural subject surgical cuts does not agree in number with the singular verb is. Since is is in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, the subject surgical cuts must be made singular. Accordingly, the first verb sever should also be changed to singular severs to agree in number with the appropriate singular subject.

 

POE

Incorrect

 

This choice has the error pointed out in the error analysis.

Incorrect

 

Modifier Error

 

Use of modifier having been made is incorrect. This modifier is used to present the action done before another past action. For example:

 

Tom, having finished his breakfast, went to office.

 

The above mentioned sentence means that Tom first finished his breakfast. Then he went to office.

 

However, since the pertinent portion in the given sentence is meant to present a scientific fact, the usage of this modifier is incorrect in the context of this sentence.

Correct

 

This indeed is the correct answer choice as it corrects the error in the original sentence by changing the plural subject surgical cuts into a singular subject a surgical cut and by changing the plural verb sever to a singular verb severs to maintain the SV number agreement.

Incorrect

 

1.  SV Must Agree In Number Error

 

This choice repeats the SV number agreement error of Choice A.

 

2.  Meaning Errors

1. Presence of the phrase with the collagen fibers… suggests that along with these fibers, surgical cuts sever fewer fibers and are less likely to leave bad marks. This is certainly not the intended meaning. 
2. With the use of verb-ing modifier …lining… there is a shift in the intended meaning. The fact that the collagen fibers line along the direction of tension is the reason why the surgical cuts made in a certain way neither cut too many fibers nor tend to leave ugly scars. Per this choice, this reason merely appears as additional information in the sentence. The importance of this information is lost in this choice. 

Incorrect

 

1.  SV Must Agree In Number Error

 

Singular subject a surgical cut does not agree in number with plural verb sever.

 

2.  Meaning Errors

 

This choice repeats both the meaning errors of Choice D.