The World Wildlife Fund has Declared that Global Warming, A Phenomenon Most Scientists

Question: The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitats.

(A) a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels,
(B) a phenomenon most scientists agree that is caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,
(C) a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels,
(D) which most scientists agree on as a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels,
(E) which most scientists agree to be a phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,

“The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientists” is a GMAT sentence correction question. GMAT Sentence Correction is complex in nature and most candidates struggle with this part. GMAT Sentence Correction question contains a sentence with an underlined portion that contains 0-2 errors.

Candidates will find sentences that are entirely underlined. GMAT sentence correction practice helps candidates score high in this section. GMAT Sentence Correction questions aim to measure three broad categories of language proficiency: correct expression, effective expression, and proper diction.

Answer: C
Explanation: In this GMAT sentence correction question, we need to check the followings-

1. Modifier: "a phenomenon" vs. "which"
2. Idiom and Verbs: agree to be / agree that is / agree is / agree on
3. Meaning: What is global warming caused by?

Option A: INCORRECT

Statement A firstly uses the verb "to be" which refers to scientists will agree on this in the future. But this is not in the present. Secondly, says that global warming is caused by "human beings in burning fossil fuels." This means that global warming is caused by human beings who are burning fossil fuels. This incorrect. Global warming is caused by burning fossil fuels. So the verb, tense, and meaning problems.

Option B: INCORRECT.

Statement B uses the word "that" which is mislaid here. This is a modifier for the word "phenomenon". It must be placed before "most scientists agree". This makes the statement awkward. So let's eliminate statement B.

Option C: CORRECT

In this statement, we see that the verb and meaning are clear and concise. The present tense "is" to denote that scientists currently agree. It also stated clearly that global warming is caused by the action of humans burning fossil fuels. Hence option C is the correct answer.

Option D: INCORRECT.

This statement changes the meaning of the sentence by using the phrase “caused by human beings who”. The structure of this phrase incorrectly indicates that global warming is a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels. Option D uses the unnecessary phrase “agree on as a phenomenon”. This makes the statement awkward. So let's eliminate statement D.

Option E: INCORRECT.

This statement changes the meaning of the sentence by using the phrase “caused by fossil fuels”. The structure of this phrase incorrectly indicates that global warming is a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels. So let's eliminate statement E.

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