Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould!

[gmat_perfect]

Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould has argued that many biological traits are not the products of natural selection, favored due to their enhancement of reproduction or survival, but that they are simply random by-products of other evolutionary developments.

(A) due to their enhancement of reproduction or survival, but that they are
(B) due to the reproduction or survival they enhance, but they are
(C) because they enhance reproduction or survival, but
(D) because they enhance reproduction or survival, but are
(E) because of enhancing reproduction or survival, but are

How I have analyzed:

1. Due to Because of:

Be verb + due to=> The cancellation of the program was due to rain.

Main Verb + Because of=> The program was canceled because of rain.
=> This kills A and B.

2. Not are X but are Y:

I think it is idiomatic. I eliminate C.

I am stuck between D and E.

What is the difference between D and E? How can i choose one over another?

Thanks.

[The Jock]

Because of Enhancing is an incorrect idiom. One more thing, use of this incorrect idiom might eliminate any reference as to exactly what enhances reproduction or survival.

Hope this help.

[hardik.jadeja]

Wonderful explanation is available here:

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pal ... t1413.html

Hope that helps..

[singhpreet1]

Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould has argued that many biological traits are not the products of natural selection, favored due to their enhancement of reproduction or survival, but that they are simply random by-products of other evolutionary developments.

(A) due to their enhancement of reproduction or survival, but that they are
(B) due to the reproduction or survival they enhance, but they are
(C) because they enhance reproduction or survival, but
(D) because they enhance reproduction or survival, but are
(E) because of enhancing reproduction or survival, but are

How I have analyzed:

1. Due to Because of:

Be verb + due to=> The cancellation of the program was due to rain.

Main Verb + Because of=> The program was canceled because of rain.
=> This kills A and B.

2. Not are X but are Y:

I think it is idiomatic. I eliminate C.

I am stuck between D and E.

What is the difference between D and E? How can i choose one over another?

Thanks.

i agree with how u are eliminating the answer choices.

i would strongly favour D over E. it sounds grammatically right as well as the ing for past continuous is not required as the statement is in past tense all along. also 'of enhancing' does not fit in to the sentence.

hope thats helpful.

Preet

[viju9162]

You can consider D and E with the parallelism.

traits are not the products , [modifier], but are ....

because of enhancing seems to be wrong idiom.. I go for D.

Thanks,
Viju

[gmat_Tutor]

What I have realized is that Because of needs noun after it. In the option E, because of enhancing is awkward and not correct because enhancing is not a noun. Enhancement can be used in this case.

Am I right?

Experts, please comment.