SC Declining Enrollments

[Cinnia]

Declining enrollments are forcing smaller private colleges to choose between raising tuition and the reduction of the staff.

A) same in the sentence
B) between rising tuition and staff reduction
C) between raising tuition or reducing staff
D) between raising tuition and reducing staff
E) between the rise of tuition and the reduction of the staff

Could someone explain using AND instead of OR with this sentence?

Many thanks.

[essaysnark]

Hi Cinnia--

We think the correct answer is D.

Our reasoning in choosing the option with "and" is due to the word "between."

The best way we can think to explain it is this:

The setup to the sentence is that you have to make a choice from among this specified set of options (in this case, only two, but it could be more). The set includes "raising tuition" and "reducing staff." You are choosing between the items in the set.

The "and" doesn't relate to the "choosing" it relates to the "between."

If you said, "We have to choose either raising tuition or reducing staff" then the "either/or" is what makes that one work.

Not sure if this adds any value whatsoever, but it's how we broke it down.

EssaySnark

[Cinnia]

Is it safe to say that "between" will always pair up with "and" and "either" with "or"?

It just seems strange when you put in a sentence like: "You need to choose between eating an orange and an apple." instead of "You need to choose between eating an orange or an apple."

[GmatKiss]

IMO:D

[sl750]

Is it safe to say that "between" will always pair up with "and" and "either" with "or"?

It just seems strange when you put in a sentence like: "You need to choose between eating an orange and an apple." instead of "You need to choose between eating an orange or an apple."

Between x and y is an idiom. Idioms don't follow grammar rules, per se

Either/or Neither/nor go together, but it is also possible that either and neither can occur in a sentence without the 'or' and 'nor'

[Cinnia]

Thank you. That explanation made a lot more sense than the Kaplan gave me.

[aspirant2011]

Declining enrollments are forcing smaller private colleges to choose between raising tuition and the reduction of the staff.

A) same in the sentence
B) between rising tuition and staff reduction
C) between raising tuition or reducing staff
D) between raising tuition and reducing staff
E) between the rise of tuition and the reduction of the staff---- changes the intended meaning

Could someone explain using AND instead of OR with this sentence?

between x and y is the right idiom..........when u use or with between then the use of between becomes senseless as between is basically used to do comparison between two entities..........

Many thanks.