Many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed electrical gadgets, such as blenders and food processors, which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those caused by an industrial wood-planing machine.


Many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed electrical gadgets, such as blenders and food processors, which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those caused by an industrial wood-planing machine.

A. which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those

B. which can inflict serious injuries such as those

C. inflicting injuries as serious as that having been

D. capable to inflict injuries as serious as that

E. capable of inflicting injuries as serious as those


In-depth Explanation and Correct Answer Below (so you don’t see it while reviewing the question)

many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed

Many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed… Explanation

Many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed electrical gadgets, such as blenders and food processors, which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those caused by an industrial wood-planing machine.

(A) which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those

Food processors which… The food processors are just an example. They’re not really what the rest of the sentence (after which) is referring to. You’d need high-speed electrical gadgets next to the which.

(B) which can inflict serious injuries such as those

Food processors which… The food processors are just an example. You’d need high-speed electrical gadgets next to the which.

(C) inflicting injuries as serious as that having been

“That” is a pronoun with no logical antecedent. What could it be replacing in the sentence? Also, there’s a meaning shift. Without “can” this implies the gadgets do cause harm (not just that they can cause harm).

(D) capable to inflict injuries as serious as that

Injuries THOSE. Pronoun/Noun agreement. Also, must be capable OF.

(E) capable of inflicting injuries as serious as those

Correct Answer: E

For some SC guidance, here’s a link to a breakdown of GMAT sentence correction.