All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Practice

All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 10 / 557

Choose the option that best corrects the grammatical or logical error in the underlined fragment.

Considering the myriad variables involved in economic forecasting, a definitive prediction of market trends proved elusive for the analysts.

A. (No change)
B. the analysts found a definitive prediction of market trends elusive
C. market trends, a definitive prediction of which proved elusive for the analysts, were considered
D. it proved elusive for the analysts to make a definitive prediction of market trends

1. Identification of Error: Dangling Participle (Modifier Placement)
2. Grammatical Rule: A participial phrase introducing a sentence must logically modify the grammatical subject of the main clause. The implied subject of the introductory phrase must match the explicit subject of the clause that follows.
3. Option Elimination:
A. Incorrect — The introductory participial phrase "Considering the myriad variables..." implies that someone is doing the considering. However, the subject of the main clause, "a definitive prediction," cannot logically perform this action, thus creating a dangling participle.
B. Correct — This option correctly places "the analysts" as the subject of the main clause, ensuring that the participial phrase "Considering the myriad variables..." logically modifies "the analysts," who are the ones doing the considering.
C. Incorrect — This option is grammatically awkward and overly wordy. Furthermore, "market trends" do not logically perform the action of "considering."
D. Incorrect — The expletive pronoun "it" in "it proved elusive" does not logically refer to a subject capable of "considering" variables, thereby failing to resolve the dangling modifier.

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