This question originates from a MG CAT problem about the domestic cat's descendance from african wildcat. I wonder how far can the word 'that' be from the noun that it tries to modify?

The incorrect choice D says:

"Having descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution that has scarcely been sufficient for the marked physical changes that transformed the animal"

'in a short time for its generic evolution that has scarcely been sufficient', the modifier starting with 'that' is considered ambiguous because it's not clear whether it refers to 'time' or 'evolution'.

Now, here is part of an Official Guide SC problem:

".. hope to create a standardized way of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet that will protect copyright holders and foil the many audio pirates..."

Why is it acceptable here to have a 'that' so far off the noun ('way') it tries to modify? Does it not cause ambiguity to have 'songs', 'recordings', 'Internet' stuffed between 'that' and 'way'?

Why the difference between the two usages?

Excellent question!

The difference between these two examples is as follows:
In the MGMAT example, you CAN put the relative clause next to the modified noun, so we SHOULD do so for clarity.
In the OG example, you simply CAN'T put the relative clause next to the modified noun, so the meaning is considered clear enough when you DON'T.

To highlight the difference, I'll put parentheses around each modifying phrase and bold the main sentence that remains.

The MGMAT example:
(Having descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago), the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time (for its genetic evolution) (that has scarcely been sufficient (for the marked physical changes (that transformed the animal)))"

"Short time" is a complete thought; the modifier "for its genetic evolution" is nice to have, but not necessary to complete the idea. I don't know what the official answer was on this one, but since it is POSSIBLE to put both modifiers closer or more clearly linked to "time," we must chose a way that does so.

I'm just making up possibilities--
(1) "The domestic cat has had (an exceedingly short genetic evolution) time (that has scarcely been sufficient)..."
(2) "The genetic evolution (of the domestic cat) has occurred over an exceedingly short time (that has scarcely been sufficient)..."

The OG example:
".. hope to create a standardized way ((of distributing songs and full-length recordings) (on the Internet)) (that will protect copyright holders and foil the many audio pirates..."

"Standardized way" is not a complete thought; it begs the question "way of doing what?" and means that "of distributing X and Y" MUST be placed after "way." Of course, this crowds out the relative clause "that will X and Y," which would otherwise go there. Likewise, "on the Internet" is stuck in there, because it needs to stay close to "distributing." So even though the "that" clause gets pushed far away from "way," there is a justifiable reason for doing so, and no good way to reorder these modifiers.

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Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT