Sentence Correction

"‹"‹Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long "‹"‹fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

A) fasts, in their ability to survive
B) fasts, having their ability to survive
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
D) fasts because they are able to survive
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

OA: D

ans D

A) fasts, in their ability to survive
B) fasts, having their ability to survive
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
D) fasts because they are able to survive (correct)
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

Hope this helps
Vinni

still couldn't get why A and B are incorrect.

Any help will be appreciated.
thanks

aflaam wrote:still couldn't get why A and B are incorrect.

Any help will be appreciated.
thanks

Comma + preposition(in their ability to survive) modifies the action that means they are adverbial.

Option A -
Turtles can endure long "‹"‹fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings;

This changes the meaning. It states here that turtles endure fast in order to survive, but the intended meaning has nothing to deal with their own survival, but the intended meaning is because they are able to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings therefore they can endure fasts.

richachampion wrote:"‹"‹Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long "‹"‹fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

A) fasts, in their ability to survive
B) fasts, having their ability to survive
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
D) fasts because they are able to survive
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

Notice that D offers a VERB FORM (are able), whereas the other answer choices replace this verb form with a NOUN FORM (ability).
Generally, a verb form will be preferable to a noun form.
Since D is free of errors -- and is the only answer choice that offers the verb form are able rather than the noun form ability -- D is by default BETTER than the other options.

The correct answer is D.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

richachampion wrote:"‹"‹Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long "‹"‹fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

A) fasts, in their ability to survive
B) fasts, having their ability to survive
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
D) fasts because they are able to survive
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

Notice that D offers a VERB FORM (are able), whereas the other answer choices replace this verb form with a NOUN FORM (ability).
Generally, a verb form will be preferable to a noun form.
Since D is free of errors -- and is the only answer choice that offers the verb form are able rather than the noun form ability -- D is by default BETTER than the other options.

The correct answer is D.

Thanks sir, but can you Please check if my answer regarding the explanation of Option A correct, and additionally can you also comment on the Option B = "having"

Hello Everyone!

Let's take a closer look at this question to get to the correct answer quickly! Before we dive in, here is the original question, with major differences highlighted in orange:

Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

A) fasts, in their ability to survive
B) fasts, having their ability to survive
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
D) fasts because they are able to survive
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

While it looks like the bulk of each option is different, there are a couple things we can focus on to narrow down our options:

1. ability to survive / ability of surviving
2. because / due to / in having

Since #1 on our list will eliminate 2-3 options quickly, let's start there!

Whenever we talk about someone's ability + action, we MUST use the idiomatic phrase "ability TO" or "able TO." In English, we do not say that someone has the "ability OF" anything. Let's figure out which options use this correctly, and eliminate the ones who don't:

A) fasts, in their ability to survive --> OK
B) fasts, having their ability to survive --> OK
C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving --> WRONG
D) fasts because they are able to survive --> OK
E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving --> WRONG

There you go - we can eliminate options C & E because they don't use the correct format "ability TO." This was a quick way to knock a couple options off the list!

Now, let's tackle #2 on this list, which is how to best show the intended meaning. If you read carefully, we're looking at a cause/effect relationship:

Cause: Turtles can survive on weekly or monthly feedings.
Effect: Turtles can endure long periods of fasting.

Since the ability to survive on weekly or monthly feedings is a REASON for them enduring fasts, we need to make sure the wording shows this clearly and without being overly wordy. Here is how the remaining options stack up:

A) fasts, in their ability to survive

This is INCORRECT because it doesn't clearly state that living on weekly and monthly feedings is a REASON for why they can endure fasting periods. It almost sounds like the sentence is saying it's typical for them to endure fasting because they ALWAYS have to live with weekly or monthly feedings, which isn't true.

B) fasts, having their ability to survive

This is INCORRECT because it also doesn't clearly show that this sentence is presenting a REASON why turtles can withstand fasting periods. It also sounds awkward and overly wordy, which is a red flag on the GMAT that the option is likely wrong.

D) fasts because they are able to survive

This is CORRECT! The word "because" makes it very clear that the sentence is providing a REASON. It also uses the pronoun "they" to further clarify we are talking about turtles specifically.

There you go - option D is the correct choice! It's clear, concise, and uses the correct idiomatic format of "able/ability to."


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