Sentence Correction

To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually instilling the notion that
many of those who are just called "needy" actually have adequate resources; such
a conclusion is unwarranted.
(A) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually instilling the notion
(B) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is instilling the notion gradually
(C) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually to instill the notion
(D) Speaking habitually of the "truly needy" is to instill the gradual notion
(E) Speaking habitually of the "truly needy" is instilling the gradual notion

The answer is E

Anup,
How can a notion be gradual?

I would argue that answer is A.

Here was my process.

I saw the To speak / Speaking split and I wasn't sure how to deal with that, so I moved onto the last work of the answer choices. And, everything after the verb is seems to be different for each answer choice. However, I did notice that the non-underlined portion of the sentence starts with that , which should be part of the idiom notion that. So, I tackled them 1 by 1.

A) I didn't see any issues here, the adverb gradually is modifying the correct term: instilling.

B) The idiom notion gradually that is incorrect

C) To speak .. is gradually This is clearly incorrect.

D) gradual should not be modifying notion

E) Same as D)


I hope this makes sense.

Also, this is my first response on Beat the GMAT, so go easy on me

smagish wrote:To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually instilling the notion that
many of those who are just called "needy" actually have adequate resources; such
a conclusion is unwarranted.
(A) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually instilling the notion
(B) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is instilling the notion gradually
(C) To speak habitually of the "truly needy" is gradually to instill the notion
(D) Speaking habitually of the "truly needy" is to instill the gradual notion
(E) Speaking habitually of the "truly needy" is instilling the gradual notion

IMO A

I can explain if the answer is correct.

IMO A
But I would like to know the reason for C being wrong.

IMO A
But I would like to know the reason for C being wrong

sanrisenew wrote:IMO A
But I would like to know the reason for C being wrong

It changes the intended meaning of sentence.

In what way "to instill" changes the meaning from "instilling"

'instilling' gives an idea that it is an outcome of effect whereas 'to instill' gives an idea that something was done with the intention to get some effect.

Hope it helps.