A 3 min read

In preparation for the prediction of a major earthquake that will hit the state, a satellite-based computer network is being built by the California Office of Emergency Services for identifying earthquake damage and to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event.

 

Meaning Analysis

• In preparation for the prediction of a major earthquake
  • that will hit the state,

The sentence starts by saying that a powerful earthquake is going to hit some state. Some preparations have been made or are being made for the forecast of this quake. Since the sentence starts with In preparation, let’s read further for more details on these preparations.

• a satellite-based computer network is being built by the California Office of Emergency Services
  • for identifying earthquake damage and
  • to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event.

This part tells us that the earthquake is supposed to hit the state of California. Hence, the concerned officials are making necessary arrangements for two things – to analyze the damage and to find out the most affected region soon after the quake.

 

To sum up, the sentence tells us that a big earthquake will hit California. So the officials are making preparations with specific purposes for the prediction of the quake. Well, it does not make sense to say that the arrangements are being made for the prediction of the earthquake. The purposes of these arrangements are to evaluate the damage and recognize the most affected area soon after the quake. Both these actions can be done only after the quake has hit. Hence, the preparations are being made not for the prediction but for the earthquake itself.

 

Error Analysis

 

1.  Meaning Error

 

The section In preparation for the prediction of seems to suggest that the preparation is for the prediction of earthquake and not for the earthquake itself. This meaning makes little sense and is illogical.

 

2.  Parallelism Error

 

The preparations have two purposes. The construction used to convey the first purpose for identifying is not grammatically parallel to that of the second purpose to pinpoint. Since the second purpose is in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, the first purpose must be written as to identify to make the list grammatically parallel.

 

POE

Incorrect

 

This choice is incorrect for the reasons stated in the error analysis.

Incorrect

 

1.  Meaning Error

 

This choice repeats the meaning error of Choice A.

 

2.  Parallelism Error

 

This choice also has a parallelism error. The clause that will identify… is grammatically not parallel to to pinpoint….

Correct

 

This indeed is the correct answer choice.

Incorrect

 

Meaning Errors

1. This choice repeats the meaning error present in Choice A.
2. to prepare… adds another purpose for building the said network, a purpose not conveyed in the original sentence.

Incorrect

 

1.  Parallelism Error

 

The choice repeats the parallelism error of Choice B.

 

Also to prepare… adds another purpose for building the said network, a purpose not conveyed in the original sentence.

 

2.  Meaning Error

 

to prepare… adds another purpose for building the said network, a purpose not conveyed in the original sentence.