George Washington

[vietst]

George Washington dedicated his life to the economic strengthening of the south with improvement of soil and diversification of corps.
A. the economic strengthening of the south with improvement of soil and diversification of corps.
B. strengthening the economy in the south with soil improvement and diversification of corps.
C. the strengthening the economy of the south through soil improvement and crop diversification.
D. the strengthening of the economy of the south through improving soil and crop diversifying.
E. the economic strengthening in the south with improving soil and diversifying corp.
OA is C

[StaceyKoprince]

2 things: first, please remember to use the correct subject (first 5-8 words of the problem) and, second, please give us some specifics about whatever troubled you on this problem. Thanks!


I think there's a typo in your C by the way (the correct answer) - I'm assuming it should read "the strengthening OF the economy..."

What does the original sentence mean? He wanted to make the south stronger economically. Then I have "with" 2 things. Is this HOW he tried to strengthen the south's economy? Are these two entirely separate things he also dedicated his life to? It should be the former (otherwise, what are these other random concepts doing there?), but the word "with" doesn't actually indicate any intent or cause-effect relationship. Elim A. Also B and E.

C and D both use "through" which now actually indicates an appropriate cause/effect relationship. D, however, says we're going to strengthen the economy through "improving soil and crop diversifying" - that's not parallel. You'd have to say "diversifying crops."

C it is!

[Gues]

The OP is correct in his copying of choice C. Choice C has no "of" - I have verified this in the actual GmatPrep

It simply reads - C: the strengthening the economy of the south through soil improvement and crop diversification

How is this sentence correct?

[RonPurewal]

The OP is correct in his copying of choice C. Choice C has no "of" - I have verified this in the actual GmatPrep

It simply reads - C: the strengthening the economy of the south through soil improvement and crop diversification

How is this sentence correct?

i bet the first "the" isn't there: GW dedicated his life to strengthening the economy...

if it is there, then the problem contains a typographical error.

[lawrence]

I checked the original material, the right info as below:

George Washington Carver dedicated his life to the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops.
(A) the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops
(B) strengthening the economy in the South with soil improvement and the diversification of crops
(C) strengthening the economy of the South through soil improvement and crop diversification
(D) the strengthening of the economy of the South through improving soil and crop diversifying
(E) the economic strengthening in the South with improving soil and diversifying crops

THANKS MGMAT!

[RonPurewal]

THANKS MGMAT!

you're welcome sir.

[H]

Hi Ron,

I just wonder when to use "to+infinitive" and when to use "to+present participle".
Thanks in advance.

[RonPurewal]

Hi Ron,

I just wonder when to use "to+infinitive" and when to use "to+present participle".
Thanks in advance.

this is one of those case-by-case idiomatic things. sorry i don't have a better answer than that ... but i don't.

in general, the sorts of constructions that take to + -ing are abstract concepts having to do with the way you feel about something:
committed to ___ing
dedicated to ___ing
opposed to ___ing
etc.
of course, i may just be coming up with lots of these right now because my brain is on that particular track (the power of suggestion), but that's most of what i come up with.

there are hundreds if not thousands of constructions that use the infinitive.
you should just note the ones that fool you, put them on flash cards, and study them. that's the best way to go about it.
unfortunately, there are no truly general principles when it comes to idiomatic usage. except, of course, for the general principle "whatever gmac says is correct."

[H]

Thanks

[JonathanSchneider]

: )

[rohit21384]

George Washington Carver dedicated his life to the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops.
(A) the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops
(B) strengthening the economy in the South with soil improvement and the diversification of crops
(C) strengthening the economy of the South through soil improvement and crop diversification
(D) the strengthening of the economy of the South through improving soil and crop diversifying
(E) the economic strengthening in the South with improving soil and diversifying crops

another thing wrong in option A is that "the economic strengthening" literal meaning is that strengthening of South in econominical way using the minimum of time or resources etc......

[direstraits007]

C and D both use "through" which now actually indicates an appropriate cause/effect relationship. D, however, says we're going to strengthen the economy through "improving soil and crop diversifying" - that's not parallel. You'd have to say "diversifying crops."

C it is!

Stacey,

As you said in option D if it were "diversifying crops" then it would be a parallel construction and would be a right answer...right ?

But my doubt is "through" is a preposition and hence can be followed by its object"”a noun, pronoun, or noun equivalent. So, How can be "improving soil and diversifying crops" a noun or noun equivalent ?

please correct me if i'm missing something here...

Thanks!

GeeMate.

[RonPurewal]

C and D both use "through" which now actually indicates an appropriate cause/effect relationship. D, however, says we're going to strengthen the economy through "improving soil and crop diversifying" - that's not parallel. You'd have to say "diversifying crops."

C it is!

Stacey,

As you said in option D if it were "diversifying crops" then it would be a parallel construction and would be a right answer...right ?

But my doubt is "through" is a preposition and hence can be followed by its object"”a noun, pronoun, or noun equivalent. So, How can be "improving soil and diversifying crops" a noun or noun equivalent ?

please correct me if i'm missing something here...

Thanks!

GeeMate.

i think you're right; i don't think you can follow "through" with an -ing construction.

however, this is not the case for all prepositions. for instance, "in" can definitely be followed by -ing constructions:
in investigating the crime scene, you must be careful not to disturb or destroy evidence.
so, unfortunately, this is probably going to be idiomatic, on an individual basis - different for each preposition.

[tankobe]

Hi Ron,

I just wonder when to use "to+infinitive" and when to use "to+present participle".
Thanks in advance.

this is one of those case-by-case idiomatic things. sorry i don't have a better answer than that ... but i don't.

in general, the sorts of constructions that take to + -ing are abstract concepts having to do with the way you feel about something:
committed to ___ing
dedicated to ___ing
opposed to ___ing
etc.
of course, i may just be coming up with lots of these right now because my brain is on that particular track (the power of suggestion), but that's most of what i come up with.

there are hundreds if not thousands of constructions that use the infinitive.
you should just note the ones that fool you, put them on flash cards, and study them. that's the best way to go about it.
unfortunately, there are no truly general principles when it comes to idiomatic usage. except, of course, for the general principle "whatever gmac says is correct."

well, these are idiom i collect, in which to must be togather with NOUN or Ving,rather than V.
ascribe to/attribute to/ lead to/liken to/pay attention to/stick to/in contrast to/contribute to/credit to/yield to/devote/dedicate to
object to/be opposed to

[tankobe]

(c) the strengthening of the economy of the South through improving soil and crop diversifying

Ron, in c, can throngh phrase as a ADV modify the strengthening of the economy, a Noun phrase?[regardless the wield structure ofthrongh phrase ].