GWD3-Q27

[QQcandy]

Q27:
Competition in the mid-nineteenth century by large western farms gradually caused farmers in Pennsylvania to turn to livestock raising, but before that it was predominantly grain-producing.

A. Competition in the mid-nineteenth century by large western farms gradually caused farmers in Pennsylvania to turn to livestock raising, but before that it was predominantly grain-producing.

B. Once predominantly a grain-producing state, competition in the mid-nineteenth century from large western farms gradually was causing Pennsylvania’s farmers to turn to livestock raising.

C. Pennsylvania’s farmers were gradually caused to turn to livestock raising by competition from large western farms in the mid-nineteenth century, but before that it was predominantly a grain-producing state.

D. It was once predominantly grain-producing, but competition in the mid-nineteenth century by large western farms was gradually causing Pennsylvania’s farmers to turn to livestock raising.

E. Pennsylvania was once a predominantly grain-producing state, but competition in the mid-nineteenth century from large western farms gradually caused the state’s farmers to turn to livestock raising.

Why the correct answer "E" is so different than the original sentences lah is that decided by 句意 or according to Grammer....

[Grace]

E is considered the best anwswer interms of both grammar/sentece structure and rhetorics. E clearly points out that the subject is Pennsylvania state and then states further information about the subject, whereas A B C C did not. {just to remind, subject is the most important element of a sentence!}

anwer A : "it" is ambigious in that reader may confused that wether it refer to "competion" or the state.

anwer B: The subject hat follows the Noun clause "Once predominately..." should be Pennsylvania, rather than "competion".

answer C: the subject of the former clause [ farmer] is not consistent with the latter one [the state].
anwer D: when you saw "It", ask yourself what does it refer to. As readers, we were not clearly indicated what "It" refers to in this sentece.

[游客]

1."before that......"wrong usage=>A,C
2.you can't depcit the happened situations with past pregressive tense.
Usuallly, I ofted use past tecse to discribe someting happened.
=>B,D (was causing.....)

[agk99]

mike很讚，你這二段式解法是我看過既make sense又快速的解法
學起來了，謝謝

[suechi915]

關於這題C選項
我有一個想法不曉得對不對
就是現在進行式不與gradually連用
有redundent之嫌, right?

[林小馬]

關於這題C選項
我有一個想法不曉得對不對
就是現在進行式不與gradually連用
有redundent之嫌, right?

C. Pennsylvania’s farmers were gradually caused to turn to livestock raising by competition from large western farms in the mid-nineteenth century, but before that it was predominantly a grain-producing state.

有一點不懂你的問題耶
C選項好像沒有現在進行式啊
算是過去式吧

[suechi915]

抱歉 是B選項

(B)Once predominantly a grain-producing state, competition in the mid-nineteenth century from large western farms gradually was causing Pennsylvania’s farmers to turn to livestock raising.

[A級垂耳兔]

有before that...這種用法嗎?

[hwatai]

感覺不是正式寫作的用法.....
不過Merriam Webster對that在代名詞的用法上的確有正式的解釋

a : the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation <that is my father> b : the time, action, or event specified <after that I went to bed>

[pimi]

所以如果以後我們在選項中看到before that
就可以大膽的把它刪掉嗎????

[Msmistake]

所以如果以後我們在選項中看到before that
就可以大膽的把它刪掉嗎????

>> 這裡是因為 "but" "before" that 才不能選吧
無論before 是當 conj., prep. or adv. 這樣接都很奇怪

[ilovecushi]

同意 " Ving" and "gradually" 若同時出現則為redundancy
都有持續 漸進 的意思

大家同意嘛?

from longman:
slowly, over a long period of time [≠ suddenly]:
Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell.
Gradually, my ankle got better.

[jackylin1203]

個人覺得(C)(D)選項中的it意指賓州(Pennsylvania), 但句中只出現過賓州的農夫們(Pennsylvania’s farmers),代名詞能否這樣使用似有疑慮!