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Question

The hognose snake puts on an impressive bluff, hissing and rearing back, broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but, having no dangerous fangs and no venom, eventually, if its pursuer is not cowed by the performance, will fall over and play dead.

(A) broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but, having no dangerous fangs and no venom,
(B) broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigns repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom,
(C) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigning repeated strikes, but it has no dangerous fangs and no venom, and
(D) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigns repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom, and
(E) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom, and

OA - C
I could understand why C) is correct. However, my question is related to non-underlined portion. I am not able to understand the relation of

, and eventually, if its pursuer is not cowed by the performance, will fall over and play dead.

I am not able to understand "will fall over and play dead" part.

If we get rid of modifiers etc,.-

The hognose snake puts on an impressive bluff, hissing...., but it has not dangerous fangs and no venom, and if X, will fall over and play dead

Here, I know that "but" joins two independent clauses. However, what's "Will fall over..." ?

Thanks
Voodoo

Jim@Grockit · Answer

Try to simplify it more and change the order:
The hognose snake puts on an impressive bluff, but will fall over and play dead if its pursuer is not cowed by the performance.

I am tired but will go to the store today.

"But" is a coordinating conjunction, but it does not join only independent clauses. Here it is joining verb phrases.

voodoo_child · Answer

Jim, A quick follow-up question - Is that also true for other coordinating conjunctions - FOR, AND, NOR, OR, YET AND SO? Can you please let me know your thoughts? Thanks

Jim@Grockit · Answer

voodoo_child wrote:Jim,
A quick follow-up question -

Is that also true for other coordinating conjunctions - FOR, AND, NOR, OR, YET AND SO? Can you please let me know your thoughts?

Thanks

Absolutely true: "sad but true", "dogs and cats", "fell yet did not break", "Frank or Preetham". I can't think of one for "so", but coordinating conjunctions link parallel structures, and do not only appear with independent clauses.

e-GMAT · Answer

voodoo_child wrote:
Here, I know that "but" joins two independent clauses. However, what's "Will fall over..." ?

Received a PM for this question.

As @Jim has already stated, in this sentence, the conjunction "and" (in Choice C) is connecting two verb phrases.
Here is the clause 2 (connected using comma + but)
But it has no dangerous fangs and no venom, and eventually ,if its pursuer is not cowed by the performance, will fall over and play dead.

voodoo_child · Answer

Experts,
I have a question:

Why cant we treat "to come" as a verbal after "and" in the following OG Question - Answer Choice C).
i.e.
According to some analysts, the gains in the stock market reflect growing confidence in the economy's ability to avoid the recession, modifier, and instead to come ........?

OG Says that "and" connect two I Clauses. I am a bit confused

Please help

According to some analysts, the gains in the stock market reflect growing confidence that the economy will avoid the recession that many had feared earlier in the year and instead come in for a "soft landing," followed by a gradual increase in business activity.

A)that the economy will avoid the recession that many had feared earlier in the year and instead come
B)in the economy to avoid the recession, what many had feared earlier, rather to come
C)in the economy's ability to avoid the recession, something earlier in the year many had feared, and instead to come
D)in the economy to avoid the recession many were fearing earlier in the year, and rather to come
E)that the economy will avoid the recession that was feared earlier this year by many, with it instead coming

Thanks

priya2gupta5 · Answer

I also have similar question: How is it that comma + and is used to connect two verb phrases. Should we not use just 'and' here.

e-GMAT · Answer

Now this is an official sentence, so we should not question it.

Looking at this question and one more GMATPrep question (comma + but usage) (posted below), it appears as though GMAT is not very consistent in terms of testing this as an error.

Now I will not go to the extent of saying that GMAT does not test punctuation rules. After all run-on sentences are formed because of lack of appropriate punctuation. But I can say this:

If you do not see comma + FANBOYS followed by an independent clause, just make a note of it, but DO NOT ELIMINATE this answer choice till you have exhausted all other error categories.

I re-iterate - definitely be cognizant of the typical punctuation rules. But if in an answer choice you see the following construction

, fanboys abc - where abc is not an independent clause.

DO NOT eliminate this choice before you have looked at all other more obvious error categories.

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eastcoastrocks · Answer

Its so hard to first learn the rules and then unlearn them...why can this all be consistent...

Well thanks e-GMAT for telling us to not unlearn the rules but to keep them aside and ensure we eliminate choices based on other errors...

voodoo_child · Answer

e-GMAT wrote:Now this is an official sentence, so we should not question it.

Looking at this question and one more GMATPrep question (comma + but usage) (posted below), it appears as though GMAT is not very consistent in terms of testing this as an error.

Thanks for responding, Payal. I think you forgot to post another question "posted below" ...can you please????

e-GMAT · Answer

Oh yes, I forgot to put that example question: Here it is: Notice the correct answer with choice E

After several years of rapid growth, the health care company became one of the largest health care providers in the metropolitan area, while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in its payment to doctors and hospitals.
A. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months
behind in its payment to
B. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business and fell months
behind in its payment to
C. but then it proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in its paying
D. but then proving unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in paying
E. but then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in paying

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