Because Miranda, the smallest moon of Uranus, has a large number of different surface features, including craters, mountains, valleys, and fractures, some astronomers suggest that at one time repeated impacts broke the surface apart, and after which the fragments were subsequently rejoined because of mutual gravitational attraction.

(A) repeated impacts broke the surface apart, and after which the fragments were subsequently rejoined because of
(B) repeated impacts on the surface broke it apart, after which the fragments having rejoined with
(C) through repeated impacts that the surface broke apart, after which the fragments subsequently rejoined by
(D) the surface broke apart with repeated impacts, after which the fragments having rejoined through
(E) the surface broke apart as a result of repeated impacts, after which the fragments rejoined through
could you help me this question?
OA is E
Thanks

could you help me this question?
Thanks

My suggestions are as mentioned below:-

"A" is wrong because usage of "after which" and "subsequently" together is redundant.

"B" is wrong as "it" has no reference. "Having" is wrong.

"C" is awkward. Pls see above "A" for another issue.

"D" is wrong sematically. The surface did not broke with repeated impact. It is the effect of the repeated impact that broke the surface. Usage of having is wrong.

Choice "E" is more concise and properly constructed.

I will let expert explain it better.
Thanks

- don't need 'and' if you use 'after which' (no need for 2 linking words/phrases)
- redundancy: 'after which' means the same thing as 'subsequently', so having both is fatal
- 'because of' is sketchy; it suggests indirect causation, while the clear meaning is that gravitational attraction was directly responsible
- bad parallelism: first half is in active voice, but second half is in passive voice


- 'it' could potentially refer to either 'surface' or 'miranda' (or even 'uranus')
- 'having rejoined with' isn't a verb (an actual bona fide verb is required for parallelism)


- read the whole thing: suggested that at one time through repeated impacts that... huh??
- the wording suggests that the surface broke apart by itself (although perhaps because of the urging of the impacts) - doesn't have anywhere near as much directness as it should


- 'with' is incorrect
- 'having rejoined': same problem as in choice b


CORRECT
- 'as a result of' = proper idiom
- proper parallelism: the surface broke apart is parallel to the fragments rejoined

but suggest that should be in subjunctive mood please comment

Other than subjunctive question above, I have another question - what is the referent of which. I thought in gmat which can not refer to action.
I understand all the options use this phrase but understaning its use might be helpful somewhere else.

Thanks
Pathik

Be careful here - it isn't the case that any time we use the verb suggest we must use subjunctive. Go back and re-read the explanation for subjunctive in your strategy guide:

"The subjunctive is used to express the desire of one person or body for another person or body to do something. There is a degree of uncertainty as to whether the second person or body will actually do what is asked."

The astronomers are not suggesting to the meteors or whatever caused the impacts that they should come and crash into the planet. :) They're suggesting / supposing that this is how something happened - something that has already occurred.

Also, re: which, a couple of things. First, something that is an action is not necessarily a verb. You can also have an action noun. The word "impacts" is a noun - it happens to be talking about an action, but it's still a noun. The rule is that "which" is supposed to refer to a noun, not a verb. That doesn't mean the noun can't be an action noun.

Also, this sentence doesn't just use "which" but "after which" - this is slightly different than plain "which." With "after which," you are referring to a period of time - one thing or event taking place after another thing or event. And that's also what's going on in this sentence.