OG11 Verbal Review #79

79．  Scientists have observed large concentrations
of heavy-metal deposits in the upper twenty centimeters of Baltic Sea
sediments，which are
consistent with the growth of industrial activity there.

(A)  Baltic Sea sediments，which are consistent with the growth of industrial
activity there

(B)  Baltic Sea sediments，where the growth of industrial activity is
consistent with these findings

(C)  Baltic Sea sediments，findings consistent with its growth of industrial
activity

(D)  sediments from the Baltic Sea，findings consistent with the
growth of industrial activity in the area

(E)  sediments form the Baltic Sea．Consistent with the growth of
industrial activity there

Grammatical construction + Logical predication

This ambiguous sentence can be
clarified by asking a series of questions：The
are in the upper twenty centimeters of what? Of the sediments, not of the
Baltic Sea, so it is dearer to place sediments direly after centimeters．As the sentence is written，which seems to refer back to
the whole previous clause．Substituting
a noun，findings, makes the reference
clear．Where has the growth of industrial
activity taken place? There is too vague and makes it seem that the industry is
taking place in the sediments．Replacing
there with the more specific in the area solves this problem．

A  Baltic Sea sediments is hard to understand；which has no logical referent；there is too vague.

B  Baltic Sea sediments is hard to understand；where has no logical referent．

C  Baltic Sea sediments is hard to understand；its does not have a referent．

D  Correct．This
sentence is logical and clear．Sediments
from the Baltic Sea is a clear reference；findings
refers back to the scientists’ observations；in
this area identifies a place more specifically．

E  The phrase beginning with consistent
illogically describes the Baltic Sea．

The correct answer is D．

总觉得“

findings consistent with the
growth of industrial activity in the area

”很别扭，是从句？壮语？求高人指点。