Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Parallel construction

Expert replies
by ranjithreddy.k9 » Sat May 14, 2011 3:50 am
8) In recent times, bus companies have traded their old buses for a smaller number of new
buses, in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be reduced and
partly because new bus companies have created intense competition.
A. in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
B. in part that high fuel costs might be lowered and repair costs might be reduced
C. partly because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
D. partly for the lowering of high fuel costs and the reduction of repair costs
E. partly to lower high fuel prices and reduce repair costs



Can sumone help me with this??..Ans is E but whats wrong with C ??
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by atulmangal » Sat May 14, 2011 6:25 am
What's the source of this question???
Join the discussion

by aspirant2011 » Sat May 14, 2011 9:00 am
ranjithreddy.k9 wrote:8) In recent times, bus companies have traded their old buses for a smaller number of new
buses, in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be reduced and
partly because new bus companies have created intense competition.
A. in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
B. in part that high fuel costs might be lowered and repair costs might be reduced
C. partly because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
D. partly for the lowering of high fuel costs and the reduction of repair costs
E. partly to lower high fuel prices and reduce repair costs



Can sumone help me with this??..Ans is E but whats wrong with C ??
usage of "should" in GMAT should be avoided as these are called extreme sentences
Join the discussion

by raunekk » Sat May 14, 2011 9:06 am
I wouldnt say "should" should be avoided on GMAT but yes I would prefer milder language to a stronger one...Moreover, here, an infinitive would definitely do a better job..
Join the discussion

by sameerballani » Sat May 14, 2011 11:09 am
ranjithreddy.k9 wrote:8) In recent times, bus companies have traded their old buses for a smaller number of new
buses, in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be reduced and
partly because new bus companies have created intense competition.
A. in part because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
B. in part that high fuel costs might be lowered and repair costs might be reduced
C. partly because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be
reduced
D. partly for the lowering of high fuel costs and the reduction of repair costs
E. partly to lower high fuel prices and reduce repair costs

Can sumone help me with this??..Ans is E but whats wrong with C ??
I feel the answer is C, despite of the fact it seems wordy !!

The structure of the sentence is like: in part because P(=X and Y) and partly because Q
So i feel we need to use either partly or in part. As the non underlined part has partly, we need to go with partly. ELiminates option A and B.

In option D is tempting!! but i feel, for the lowering of high fuel costs is not parallel to the reduction of repair costs

We need to go with structure like: partly P(because X and Y) and partly Q(because....)
And we need to make sure X(high fuel costs should be lowered) an Y(repair costs should be reduced) are parallel
Also, we need to make sure P(because high fuel costs should be lowered and repair costs should be reduced) is parallel to Q(because new bus companies have created intense competition)

So will go with C(and even i believe there is no reason other than grammatical error to avoid should on GMAT)
Join the discussion

by VivianKerr » Sat May 14, 2011 11:23 am
This comes down to logic more than anything else. You're correct that this is a Parallelism question. "Partly...partly..." helps us eliminate A and B.

"Bus companies have traded, partly because...costs SHOULD be lowered..."

It doesn't make sense that bus companies have DONE something BECAUSE something "SHOULD" happen. They have DONE something BECAUSE something DID happen. Cause and effect. An action is taken BECAUSE of a fact, not because of what "should" occur. That is why C is eliminated.

Between D and E, we have the classic GMAT choice between participles and infinitives. The infinitive wins. E is correct.
Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)
Join the discussion

by smackmartine » Sat May 14, 2011 11:35 am
IMO E

Underlined portion has "and Party because" , so correct options should start with "party" to maintain parallelism. A & B are out.

C is tempting because "party because" makes it parallel to the underlined portion. But we should also see the logical construct of the sentence.
bus companies have traded their old buses for a smaller number of new uses , party (Reason 1) and party (Reason 2)

If we say Reason 1 --> because high fuel costs should be lowered ...bla bla (Does it makes sense that just because an idea is good , bus companies have traded their old buses?? No!! Sounds nonsensical. )

D --> "for the lowering of high fuel costs" is not parallel to "the reduction of repair costs"

E -> lower ....and reduce are parallel . Also " bus companies have traded their old buses...., party to....and party because.. is logical construct.
(Frankly speaking, after I have started preparing for GMAT,short sentences are attracting me because they may be concise. Luckily GMAT prefers that!! )
Join the discussion

by atulmangal » Sat May 14, 2011 4:02 pm
smackmartine wrote:IMO E

Underlined portion has "and Party because" , so correct options should start with "party" to maintain parallelism. A & B are out.

C is tempting because "party because" makes it parallel to the underlined portion. But we should also see the logical construct of the sentence.
bus companies have traded their old buses for a smaller number of new uses , party (Reason 1) and party (Reason 2)

If we say Reason 1 --> because high fuel costs should be lowered ...bla bla (Does it makes sense that just because an idea is good , bus companies have traded their old buses?? No!! Sounds nonsensical. )

D --> "for the lowering of high fuel costs" is not parallel to "the reduction of repair costs"

E -> lower ....and reduce are parallel . Also " bus companies have traded their old buses...., party to....and party because.. is logical construct.
(Frankly speaking, after I have started preparing for GMAT,short sentences are attracting me because they may be concise. Luckily GMAT prefers that!! )
Hi, i don't think, the reasoning you mentioned above for Op D is CORRECT.

"the lowering of" and "the reduction of" are both NOUNS.....so,

""for the lowering of high fuel costs" and " [for] the reduction of repair costs" are perfectly parallel.

Moreover, in Op E, its

To lower and [TO] reduce are parallel (infinitives)

Not , Lower and Reduce (Verbs)

The reason of picking Op E and Dropping Op D is something else...
Join the discussion

by smackmartine » Sat May 14, 2011 4:28 pm
To lower and [TO] reduce are parallel (infinitives)
@atulmangal ,My intention for E was same as what you said.Just missed to write "TO".

As you said D seems to be parallel. Thanks for correcting.
Join the discussion

by ranjithreddy.k9 » Sun May 15, 2011 1:38 am
atulmangal wrote:What's the source of this question???
2minuteGmat.com
Join the discussion

by ranjithreddy.k9 » Sun May 15, 2011 1:40 am
VivianKerr wrote:This comes down to logic more than anything else. You're correct that this is a Parallelism question. "Partly...partly..." helps us eliminate A and B.

"Bus companies have traded, partly because...costs SHOULD be lowered..."

It doesn't make sense that bus companies have DONE something BECAUSE something "SHOULD" happen. They have DONE something BECAUSE something DID happen. Cause and effect. An action is taken BECAUSE of a fact, not because of what "should" occur. That is why C is eliminated.

Between D and E, we have the classic GMAT choice between participles and infinitives. The infinitive wins. E is correct.
Thanks a lot..ur post really helped me
Join the discussion