parry wrote:could anyone explain what is wrong with option D?
D. the collapse of the currency system, as well as failing
As well as must follow as noun, and ...ing can function as a noun.
So, we have a parallel list of four nouns:
i. a drastic fall,
ii. a reduction,
iii. the collapse and
iv. failing.
We also have an official problem in which emitting, followed by as well as, is parallel to burn
Diesel engines burn as much as 30% less fuel than gasoline engines of comparable size, as well as emitting far less carbon dioxide gas and far fewer of the other gases that have been implicated in global warming.
Thanks.
You're right -
a fall, a reduction, the collapse, and the failing - could have been a parallel list of 4 things. The main issue is that "as well as" is not a conjunction, and thus cannot take the place of "and." We can't say
W, X, Y, as well as Z. It must be
W, X, Y, and Z.
The other issue is that when we want to use an -ing word as a gerund (noun) in a list of action nouns, we must put the word "the" before it. Otherwise, an -ing after a comma will be interpreted as a participial modifier.
Here's a breakdown of all answer choices:
Early administrative decisions in China's Ming Dynasty eventually caused a drastic fall in tax revenues, a reduction in military preparedness, the collapse of the currency system, and failed to make sufficient investment in vital transportation infrastructure.
A. the collapse of the currency system, and failed
- "failed" is not parallel
B. the collapse of the currency system, and failing
- "failing" is not parallel. We'd have to say "the failing" to make this a gerund (action noun) rather than a participle.
C. and the collapse of the currency system, also failed
- "and the collapse" completes a parallel list of 3 items (rather than 4), but "also failed" is not correctly modifying the list.
D. the collapse of the currency system, as well as failing
- "as well as" is not a conjunction. If this were changed to "and the failing," it would be fine.
E. and the collapse of the currency system, as well as a failure
- correct list: X, Y, and Z
- "as well as" is now a phrase modifying the entire list, and not a 4th list item. This is perfectly correct.
The answer is
E.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
