Sentence Correction

This is from an official practice exam and correct choice is A. Why can't it be B?

Researchers hypothesize that granitic soil is the ideal construction material for the desert tortoise because it is not so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause tunnels to collapse.

a/ so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause

b/ hard enough to make burrowing difficult or soft enough as to cause

c/ so hard as to make burrowing difficult or soft enough so it causes

d/ as hard as to make burrowing difficult or as soft as to cause

e/ too hard, making burrowing difficult, nor too soft, so as to cause

melanie.espeland wrote:This is from an official practice exam and correct choice is A. Why can't it be B?

Researchers hypothesize that granitic soil is the ideal construction material for the desert tortoise because it is not so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause tunnels to collapse.

a/ so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause

b/ hard enough to make burrowing difficult or soft enough as to cause

c/ so hard as to make burrowing difficult or soft enough so it causes

d/ as hard as to make burrowing difficult or as soft as to cause

e/ too hard, making burrowing difficult, nor too soft, so as to cause

I am going with "Sometimes the simplest answer is the best answer."

In this case, the simplest answer to your question seems to be that enough to make burrowing difficult is not parallel to enough so as to cause.

Also, the enough so as to cause is a little awkwardly worded.

Thanks so. That means in Answer B, if the two pieces were "....hard enough to..." and "soft enough to...." - these phrases would be parallel and acceptable on gmat?

Got it thank you

melanie.espeland wrote:Thanks so. That means in Answer B, if the two pieces were "....hard enough to..." and "soft enough to...." - these phrases would be parallel and acceptable on gmat?

Generally, X is enough to do Y implies that to do Y is a desirable outcome for X.

John is tall enough to play basketball.
Here, the implication is that to play basketball is a desirable outcome for John.

Proposed rewrite of answer choice B:
Granitic soil is soft enough to cause tunnels to collapse.
Here, the implication is that to cause tunnels to collapse is a desirable outcome for the soil.
Not so.
Thus, the usage of X is enough to do Y does not convey the intended meaning.

Thanks Mitch

I did not understand why D is wrong.

as hard as to make burrowing difficult or as soft as to cause

I see it maintains parallel form "as [adj] as to [verb]"

Pls explain.

prachi18oct wrote:I did not understand why D is wrong.

as hard as to make burrowing difficult or as soft as to cause

Generally, as X as Y serves to compare one clause to another.
If the second clause omits a verb, then the verb from the first clause is implied.
D implies the following comparison:
Granitic soil is not as as hard as to make burrowing difficult [is hard[ or as soft as to cause tunnels to collapse [is soft].
The words in brackets are omitted, but their presence is implied.
This comparison is nonsensical.

Hi Mitch

I still did not understand your explanation.Can you pls elaborate more.

prachi18oct wrote:Hi Mitch

I still did not understand your explanation.Can you pls elaborate more.

Compare APPLES to APPLES.
Only LIKE things can be compared.

Granitic soil is as hard as ______.
Here, the blank must be filled with something that can logically be compared to granitic soil:
Granitic soil is as hard as STEEL.
Granitic soil is as hard as CONCRETE.
Granitic soil is as hard as CEMENT.

The comparison in D is illogical.
D: Granitic soil is as hard as TO MAKE BURROWING DIFFICULT.
Here, a noun (soil) is illogically compared to an action (to make burrowing difficult).
Eliminate D.