GWD2-Verbal-Q4

lguo1

GWD 2 Verbal Q4 SC:


    

Q4:

    

On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles
are believed to be the rate that trees grow, as seen in the rings visible
in the cross sections of their trunks.

    

 

    

1. On
        Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be
        the rate that trees grow
2. On
        Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed,
        the rate of tree growth
3. On
        Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest
        indications of sunspot cycles
4. Among
        the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree
        growth rate
5. Among
        the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the
        rate at which trees grow

The provided correct answer is (C).  But doesn't (E) look even better?

The reasons are:
1. (E) keeps the original invertical sentence structure;
2. (E) "as seen in the rings..." immediately follows and modifies "the
     rate at which trees grow"

Anyone could further explain?

Thanks!

tomwalkson

以下是引用lguo1在2006-9-25 11:13:00的发言：

GWD 2 Verbal Q4 SC:


 

Q4:

 

On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles
are believed to be the rate that trees grow, as seen in the rings visible
in the cross sections of their trunks.

 

 

 

1. On
        Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be
        the rate that trees grow
2. On
        Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed,
        the rate of tree growth
3. On
        Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest
        indications of sunspot cycles
4. Among
        the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree
        growth rate
5. Among
        the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the
        rate at which trees grow

The provided correct answer is (C).  But doesn't (E) look even better?

The reasons are:
1. (E) keeps the original invertical sentence structure;
2. (E) "as seen in the rings..." immediately follows and modifies "the
     rate at which trees grow"

Anyone could further explain?

Thanks!

Among介词短语前置引起主谓倒装，谓语动词后应紧跟主语，E又加入被动语态，不符合语法。

lguo1

But with (C),  whether the their in "as seen in the rings visible
in the cross sections of their trunks" will refer to
"sunspot cycles" or  "indications", instead of "trees", since now trees is far away?

Thanks!