Great Plains

[rohit9359]

Q. On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.
(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without
(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without
(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having
(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without
(E) settlers’ homes were built of mud and grass, making do without

OA is [spoiler](D)[/spoiler]. Any explanation?

Thanks,
Rohit.

[nitya34]

Why not B?Are you sure abt the OA and the source?

[rs2010]

Do you remember reading difference between do so and do it?

Again check the first 3 choices and then look at the choices D and E.

You will yourself know why you need to choose D.

I can explain if you want but I need you to find it out first.

[nitya34]

Q. On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.
(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without
(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without
(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having
(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without
(E) settlers’ homes were built of mud and grass, making do without--awkward/changes making
although I dont quite understand the usage of "making do without" here.

Thanks,
Rohit.

[rohit9359]

Do you remember reading difference between do so and do it?

Again check the first 3 choices and then look at the choices D and E.

You will yourself know why you need to choose D.

I can explain if you want but I need you to find it out first.

Hi Hemant,

I understand "do so" must be used when an action is referred to.

But, am still not sure why we should choose D over C? Could you please explain?

Thanks,
Rohit.

[kuldeep4gmat]

Hi Rohit;

U r talking abt "Do so"

Please tell me something abt this rule.

Thanks
kuldeep

[pakaskwa]

Yes I want to know about the use of "do so" and "do it" too. Thanks.

[rs2010]

Do you remember reading difference between do so and do it?

Again check the first 3 choices and then look at the choices D and E.

You will yourself know why you need to choose D.

I can explain if you want but I need you to find it out first.

Hi Hemant,

I understand "do so" must be used when an action is referred to.

But, am still not sure why we should choose D over C? Could you please explain?

Thanks,
Rohit.

As Nitya highlighted while not having is awkward while in D option making do (action) without X. D also sticks to present tense instead of present continuous.

[goelmohit2002]

Yes I want to know about the use of "do so" and "do it" too. Thanks.

IMO "so" is used to replace verb. But "it" replaces noun.

In general IMO "do it" is almost always wrong in GMAT.

[goelmohit2002]

Q. On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.
(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without
(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without
(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having
(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without
(E) settlers’ homes were built of mud and grass, making do without

OA is [spoiler](D)[/spoiler]. Any explanation?

Thanks,
Rohit.

Shouldn't "D" be "making them without" ??? Making do without looks really awkward. Please tell if I am missing something here.

Thanks
Mohit

[kris_hansy]

According to dictionary.com, "make do" verbal usage:

"to get along with what is at hand, despite its inadequacy: I can't afford a new coat so I have to make do with this one."

So, you can understand why D is right. A has "do it", hence incorrect. It should have "do so". Anyway, I think "do so" would be confusing, for there are two verbs in the clause that "so" may refer to.