Official GMAT paper exam question- help!

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Official GMAT paper exam question- help!

by jaydeer44 » Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:32 pm
Can someone please help explain? The answer is E. I don't see why D cannot be the correct answer. The phrase "partly because" in D parallels the "partly because" in the main clause, whereas the "partly to acquire" in choice E does not parallel exactly. I know the wording "should be acquired by their steers" in D sounds strange, but I don't see how it is wrong: depending on context, maybe the breeders do feel that the characteristics SHOULD be acquired by their steers in order for their economic purposes to be fulfilled..?

In recent years cattle breeders have increasingly used crossbreeding, in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics and partly because crossbreeding is said to provide hybrid vigor.

A) in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics
B) in part for the acquisition of certain characteristics in their steers
C) partly because of their steers acquiring certain characteristics
D) partly because certain characteristics should be acquired by their steers
E) partly to acquire certain characteristics in their steers
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by stubbornp » Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:11 pm
imo E....

to provide is parallel with to acquire

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by anjalidevangan » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:41 am
Always prefer to use an active voice than a passive voice statement if both the choices sound right to you

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by bourne159 » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:56 am
I think the two sentences that should be parallel are
partly to acquire ....................and partly to provide.........

The second part of the sentence by adding 'because crossbreeding is said' confuses us. Also 'should be acquired' in D is awkward and not parallel to the second sentence.

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