Forming

[gmat740]

There are several ways to build solid walls using just mud or clay, but the most extensively used method has been the forming of bricks out of mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, they are laidin the wall in mud mortar.

A. the forming of bricks out of mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, they are laid
B. forming the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, to lay them
C. having bricks formed from mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, they were laid
D. to form the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, to lay them
E. that bricks were formed from mud or clay, which, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, were laid

OA-D

I understand that D maintains parallelism, but my question is FORMING is a technical process of making bricks and construction material. So it has to be a noun. In that context the answers which distort the word forming must be incorrect.

Am I getting to much into the meaning or it is a case of faulty parallelism.

[madhur_ahuja]

There can be several reasons to reject an answer. This is especially the case in good GMAT questions. If you can even find one, I usually reject it and go forward ... unless I do not find a strong contender, don't even look at that.

[gmat740]

There can be several reasons to reject an answer. This is especially the case in good GMAT questions. If you can even find one, I usually reject it and go forward ... unless I do not find a strong contender, don't even look at that.

Well that doesn't answer my question at all.

I understand that D maintains parallelism, but my question is FORMING is a technical process of making bricks and construction material. So it has to be a noun. In that context the answers which distort the word forming must be incorrect.

Am I getting to much into the meaning or it is a case of faulty parallelism.

[madhur_ahuja]

There can be several reasons to reject an answer. This is especially the case in good GMAT questions. If you can even find one, I usually reject it and go forward ... unless I do not find a strong contender, don't even look at that.

Well that doesn't answer my question at all.

I understand that D maintains parallelism, but my question is FORMING is a technical process of making bricks and construction material. So it has to be a noun. In that context the answers which distort the word forming must be incorrect.

Am I getting to much into the meaning or it is a case of faulty parallelism.

To answer your question, I don't understand how forming is only a noun ?
It can be used as verb too.

This is quoted from
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/form

v. formed, form·ing, forms
v.tr.
1.
a. To give form to; shape: form clay into figures.
b. To develop in the mind; conceive: form an opinion.
2.
a. To shape or mold (dough, for example) into a particular form.
b. To arrange oneself in: Holding out his arms, the cheerleader formed a T. The acrobats formed a pyramid.
c. To organize or arrange: The environmentalists formed their own party.

[sumank8216]

D

To form is also a infinitive form of noun ,which defines method. At the same time maintain parallelism.