Somber in tone .....

[noney08]

This is one the questions in the ETS paper based : Test code 45.

Could someone please clarify this one. Thanks

12. Somber in tone and menacing in content, the leader of the terrorists who were holding the hostages sent a message leaving little hope that they would be released by the end of the week.

(A) leader of the terrorists who were holding the hostages sent a message leaving little hope that they would be
(B) leader of the terrorists holding the hostages sent a message that left little hope for their being
(C) leader of the terrorists holding the hostages sent a message leaving little hope of the hostages being
(D) message sent by the leader of the terrorists who were holding the hostages left little hope that the hostages would be
(E) message that was sent by the leader of the terrorists who were holding the hostages left little hope for the hostages to be

SPOILER: In this Choice B is right ,thus could not understand. I narrowed the coices to D and E since it is "the message that is somber in tone and meancing in content" and NOT the leader. Could someone please help me understand this one . Thanks

[spiderman]

the correct answer is D . must be a typo in your set.

[noney08]

Thanks spiderman.

[noney08]

Could someonw please explain what is wrong with choice E and why should choice D be prefered . Thanks

[sankp]

Could someonw please explain what is wrong with choice E and why should choice D be prefered . Thanks

In E, message that was sent by the leader can be reduced to message sent by the leader , which is appearing in D. Therefore D is less wordy.

In D, 'that' clause after hope clearly describes what the hope is. This is not the case in E. In E, the structure is less precise, also, I think, E changes original meaning. 'to be' in E is awkward.

[gmatguy]

its D

[shanmukh]

is it the message or the leader -somber in tone and --------

[Erin]

I want a red car.

vs.

I want a car that is red.

Reduce and simplify whenever possible.

[dsk02]

Correct answer is (D)

[shaq]

My two cents ...
If you can eliminate that without loss of meaning, always opt to do so.

He's the man (that) I saw in the bar
This is the shirt (that) I bought yesterday