The yield per acre of coffee berries varies

[sahilchaudhary]

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree,
depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough
berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

Can anyone please help me explain this question with proper reasoning.
Expert help is deeply appreciated.

[theCodeToGMAT]

Is the answer [spoiler]{C}[/spoiler]?

{A} - INCORRECT; parallelism issue "on both its size and on climate and altitude"
{B} - INCORRECT; "in that" doesn't provide the exact meaning.. "because" does
{C} - CORRECT
{D} - INCORRECT; "being" is not needed.
{E} - INCORRECT; "could" means not 100% sure.. that doesn't go with meaning of the sentence

[[email protected]]

Hi sahilchaudhary,

Many SCs include "splits" (ways to "group" answers based on a particular word or phrase). These splits can make eliminating answers a quick process.

This SC has some obvious splits that can help you to choose the correct answer.

1) "Depending" vs. "dependent": the sentence needs a verb - "depending" is a verb, "dependent" is an adjective. Eliminate B, D and E

2) The word "both": this word implies 2 things are factors, but the sentence lists 3 things ("size", "climate" and "altitude"). Eliminate A

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[AbhiS]

2) The word "both": this word implies 2 things are factors, but the sentence lists 3 things ("size", "climate" and "altitude"). Eliminate A

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

HI Rich,

Please correct me if I am wrong.

In the sentence I think there are 2 things are factors:
1) on its size and
2)on climate and altitude

The correct option C has this format, if there were 3 things that were factors than
1) we would have required ON before altitude, moreover
2) reason I have a doubt here is because AND is used 2 times trying to state - on X is parallel with on Y & Z, in which Y & Z are parallel elements on their own.
------

In option A. I think this is wrong because its not following proper parallelism (leaving aside the other issues in the sentence)

on both its size and on climate and altitude

''ON'' appears before both so the 2nd ''ON'' after ''AND'' and before climate is not required as it breaks the rule of parallelism.

If this part of sentence read - both on its size and on climate and altitude - i think it would be OK.

---------

Your reasoning have left me confused, please throw some light.

Thanks and Rgds,
Abhi

[sahilchaudhary]

2) The word "both": this word implies 2 things are factors, but the sentence lists 3 things ("size", "climate" and "altitude"). Eliminate A

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

HI Rich,

Please correct me if I am wrong.

In the sentence I think there are 2 things are factors:
1) on its size and
2)on climate and altitude

The correct option C has this format, if there were 3 things that were factors than
1) we would have required ON before altitude, moreover
2) reason I have a doubt here is because AND is used 2 times trying to state - on X is parallel with on Y & Z, in which Y & Z are parallel elements on their own.
------

In option A. I think this is wrong because its not following proper parallelism (leaving aside the other issues in the sentence)

on both its size and on climate and altitude

''ON'' appears before both so the 2nd ''ON'' after ''AND'' and before climate is not required as it breaks the rule of parallelism.

If this part of sentence read - both on its size and on climate and altitude - i think it would be OK.

---------

Your reasoning have left me confused, please throw some light.

Thanks and Rgds,
Abhi

Hi Abhi,

Option A states that "on both its size and on climate and altitude", but it is incorrect since we always say both X and Y where X and Y must be parallel. Here X = "its size" and Y = "on climate and altitude" are not parallel. So option A is incorrect.

I think both on its size and on climate and altitude is correct, but I am not sure.

Experts please confirm.

I would highly recommend everyone to watch this video on parallelism by Ron.

https://vimeo.com/33617817

[lunarpower]

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree,
depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough
berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

Can anyone please help me explain this question with proper reasoning.
Expert help is deeply appreciated.

I received a private message about this thread.

Sahil -- I can't tell what issues you are having with the problem. Please ask specific questions -- What do you already understand? What don't you understand? Which specific constructions / aspects of the sentence do you have questions about?

(You are correct that choice A contains non-parallelism.)

[ilyana]

This problem is discussed in detail here:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/the ... -t649.html

[ngalinh]

I exactly read "both on its size and on climate", (not "on both its size and on climate"). Does wearing double-check glasses help?

[lunarpower]

I exactly read "both on its size and on climate", (not "on both its size and on climate"). Does wearing double-check glasses help? :(

If you could make "double-check glasses", you certainly wouldn't need an MBA to make it big with that.

[ngalinh]

If you could make "double-check glasses", you certainly wouldn't need an MBA to make it big with that.

Ron, what are you talking about? That's what I am thinking every single day!
(You may joke, but I'd like to interpret it in this way)

I cannot create double-check glasses, but I'm passionate/hungry to create another thing that also benefits others and me, of course . High tech products vs. media products. You actually unintentionally contributed a big part to my idea through your posts replying to mine. Also, through your posts, I could see my own insight about the issue I was thinking of. So, I intended to send the draft to you to ask for your opinion, but postponed to do so a couple of times because I thought it was not completed.

[gocoder]

Hi sahilchaudhary,


1) "Depending" vs. "dependent": the sentence needs a verb - "depending" is a verb, "dependent" is an adjective. Eliminate B, D and E

I want to understand the difference between the role of "Depending" vs. "dependent" here.
Does "depending" act as a VERB+ing modifier/adjectivial modifier and how is it different from "dependent" ?
If not, how does the presence of verb["depending" is a verb] affect the meaning here ?