Like the grassy fields and old pastures that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas, the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in farming practices.
A. the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in
B. the bird itself is vanishing in the northeastern United States as a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in
C. that the birds themselves are vanishing in the northeastern United States is due to residential and industrial development and changes to
D. in the northeastern United States, sandpipers’ vanishing is due to residential and industrial development and to changes in
E. in the northeastern United States, the sandpipers’ vanishing, a result of residential and industrial development and changing
What does this question test?
This question tests your expertise in establishing logical comparison. It also tests your knowledge of fragment errors due to missing subject and verb in a clause.
What does this sentence mean?
This sentence states a comparison. It states that like the grassy fields and old pastures, the sandpiper is vanishing because of the residential and industrial development. Thus, it states that the reason for vanishing of the ‘grassy fields and old pastures’ is same as the reason for vanishing of the sandpipers.
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What are the errors in the original sentence?
- Clause 1: Like the grassy fields and old pastures
- Clause 2: that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting
- Clause 3: when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas,
- Clause 1: the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in farming practices.
This sentence has a comparison error. The two elements being compared are as follows:
- Element 1: The grassy fields and old pastures
- Element 2: The sandpiper vanishing
This is illogical comparison since it compares the grassy fields with the vanishing of sandpiper. The correct comparison should be:
- Element 1: The grassy fields and old pastures
- Element 2: The sandpiper
Answer Choice Analysis
Choice A: Comparison Error as noted in error analysis.
Choice B: No Error.
Choice C: This sentence has fragment error. It establishes correct comparison but now there is no subject for the verb – “is due to”.
Choice D: Comparison Error as in Choice A.
Choice E: Comparison Error as in Choice A. In addition, it has a fragment since there is no verb for the subject – vanishing.
Thus, Choice B is the correct answer.
What are the key take-away messages?
- Comparison should be logical.
- Each clause should have a SV pair.
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