Eyestrain may result in reading small print, ...

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 641
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:52 pm
Thanked: 11 times
Followed by:8 members
Hello,

Can you please assist with this? This is from MGMAT CAT. Thanks for your help.

Eyestrain, in addition to reading small print and staring at a computer screen, can result from a faulty or obsolete corrective lens prescription.

A) Eyestrain, in addition to reading small print or staring at a computer screen, can result from
B) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, from staring at a computer screen, or from using
C) Eyestrain can result not only from reading small print and staring at a computer screen, but also
D) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, staring at a computer screen, as well as
E) Eyestrain may result in reading small print, staring at a computer screen, or in the use of

OA: B

I was wondering why C is not correct?
Source: — Sentence Correction |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:27 am
gmattesttaker2 wrote:Hello,

Eyestrain, in addition to reading small print and staring at a computer screen, can result from a faulty or obsolete corrective lens prescription.

A) Eyestrain, in addition to reading small print or staring at a computer screen, can result from
B) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, from staring at a computer screen, or from using
C) Eyestrain can result not only from reading small print and staring at a computer screen, but also
D) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, staring at a computer screen, as well as
E) Eyestrain may result in reading small print, staring at a computer screen, or in the use of
This question is all about parallelism.
A) Eyestrain, in addition to reading small print or staring at a computer screen, can result from
This sentence adds reading and staring to eyestrain. The goal here is to express the idea that reading and staring causes eyestrain.

B) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, from staring at a computer screen, or from using
Perfect parallelism. Eyestrain can result from X, from Y or from Z.

C) Eyestrain can result not only from reading small print and staring at a computer screen, but also
Faulty parallelism with the correlative "not only . . . but also."
Eyestrain can result not only from reading and staring but also . . .
After "but also" we need "from" to maintain parallelism. ALSO, we need another "ing" participle (e.g., "using" a faulty or obsolete corrective lens prescription.)

D) Eyestrain can result from reading small print, staring at a computer screen, as well as
After "as well as" we need "from" to maintain parallelism. ALSO, we need another "ing" participle (e.g., "using" a faulty or obsolete corrective lens prescription.)

E) Eyestrain may result in reading small print, staring at a computer screen, or in the use of
Idiom is "result from"
Plus there are other parallelism issues.

The best answer is B

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:40 pm
Hi gmattesttaker2,

Brent has properly explained the incorrect grammar in the wrong answers and the correct grammar in the right answer, so I'll just offer a note on this type of question.

This is an example of a "3 item list", and it's a fairly standard SC pattern that is based on parallelism (you'll likely see one of these on the real GMAT, so it's worth knowing). When you spot a 3 item list, be sure that each item matches the "format" of the others. In this example we have the "format":

'from *verb*ing *noun*'

Notice how each item in the correct answer follows the same format? That's why it's the correct answer.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

Legendary Member
Posts: 641
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:52 pm
Thanked: 11 times
Followed by:8 members

by gmattesttaker2 » Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:37 pm
[email protected] wrote:Hi gmattesttaker2,

Brent has properly explained the incorrect grammar in the wrong answers and the correct grammar in the right answer, so I'll just offer a note on this type of question.

This is an example of a "3 item list", and it's a fairly standard SC pattern that is based on parallelism (you'll likely see one of these on the real GMAT, so it's worth knowing). When you spot a 3 item list, be sure that each item matches the "format" of the others. In this example we have the "format":

'from *verb*ing *noun*'

Notice how each item in the correct answer follows the same format? That's why it's the correct answer.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi Rich,

Hope all is well. Thank you very much for sharing this excellent tip.

Best Regards,
Sri

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:23 pm
Hi Sri,

I'm glad that you find it helpful. Since the GMAT is a standardized and predictable test, a good deal of what you have to work on is familiarizing yourself with the material that WILL show up on Test Day - what the rules are, how to spot the clues that will help you choose the easiest way to approach a question, which questions don't matter, etc. The EMPOWERgmat course is built around that level of precise familiarity and tactics. If you found this specific grammar tip helpful, then you should check out the entire course.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

• Page 1 of 1