几个争论颇大的语法题的权威解释－3 GWD-11-33

GWD-11-Q33                                                                                          

After more than four decades of research and development, a new type of jet engine is being tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help boost cargoes into space at significantly lower costs than current methods permit.

A. tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help
E. tested, and it could eventually have the capability to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help

网上只对A和E两个选项争论非常大， 其他的比较好排除

老师的解释：

I would choose A because it's cleaner. By that I mean it is the jet engine that could propel aircraft....  E requires the  insertion  of  "and it"  ... words that  are  not  needed, as well as "capability to" a phrase that is not needed. Besides, it is more correct to use "of and ...ing" rather than "to" with capability.  We make no distinction  between people and things when we use the word "capability."  The word "that" in A actually refers to "type" rather than "of jet engine." As we discussed in class, prepositional phrases （只的是after那句）are sort of like "throwaways" in grammar because nothing has to "agree" with them in terms of gender or number.

Does any of this make sense. I think it's a tough question. I'm not even sure I'm right. In fact, I think both options have their problems in terms of clarity and "cleanness" of expression.

Oxford词典上说capability of doing sth/to do sth都是可以的啊。

这道题目我看来看去还是觉得E好，对A中的那个THAT不是很明白。不知大家怎么看这题？？？

我觉得不管正确答案是A还是E（我自己觉得E更好点），老师的解释中有一点不通：他说“that”是refers back to “type”，但type怎么能成为that从句中的主语呢？逻辑上不通啊，应该是enging（发动机）推动飞机飞行，而不应该是type（型号或种类）推动飞机。

如果那位大虾给GMAC打工，找内部人问问这道题的正确答案吧，多谢啦！