Sentence Correction

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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????