Geologists believe that the warning signs for a major earthquake may include sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting and other deformations of the Earth’s crust, changing the measured strain across a fault zone, and varying the electrical properties of underground rocks.
A. changing the measured strain across a fault zone, and varying
B. changing measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and varying
C. changing the strain as measured across a fault zone, and variations of
D. changes in the measured strain across a fault zone, and variations in
E. changes in measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and variations among
In-depth Explanation and Correct Answer Below (so you don’t see it while reviewing the question)
Geologists believe that the warning… Explanation
Geologists believe that the warning signs for a major earthquake may include sudden fluctuations in local seismic activity, tilting and other deformations of the Earth’s crust, changing the measured strain across a fault zone, and varying the electrical properties of underground rocks.
(A) changing the measured strain across a fault zone, and varying
Parallelism is off. “Changing” and “varying” don’t match “fluctuations” and “deformations”. We want a simple list of nouns indicating the warning signs for a major earthquake.
Signs include:
Fluctuations
Deformations
Changing
Varying
(B) changing measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and varying
Parallelism is off. “Changing” and “varying” don’t match “fluctuations”.
Signs include:
Fluctuations
Deformations
Changing
Varying
(C) changing the strain as measured across a fault zone, and variations of
Parallelism is off. “Changing” doesn’t match “fluctuations” and “variations”
Signs include:
Fluctuations
Deformations
Changing
Variations
(D) changes in the measured strain across a fault zone, and variations in
Signs include:
Fluctuations
Deformations
Changes
Variations
(E) changes in measurements of the strain across a fault zone, and variations among
This one looks somewhat parallel but the meaning is off. It should be changes in the strain. This one emphasizes changes in the measurements. Also, “variations among” doesn’t make sense. We’re not comparing variations among the electrical properties of several different groups of rocks. The questions is focusing on underground rocks in general and the variations in the electrical properties of those rocks.
Correct Answer: D
For some SC guidance, here’s a link to a breakdown of GMAT sentence correction.