12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 6: Many patients who are

Experts' Global Official Explanation

Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that many patients overcompensate for the shortcomings in their diet by imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements, and the practice of doing so can potentially lead to kidney damage.

• For referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" – “to + lead” in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "leading" in this sentence) construction.

A. This answer choice incorrectly modifies “vitamin supplements” with “that have the potential…”, incorrectly implying that the supplements, themselves have the potential to lead to kidney damage; the intended meaning is that the practice of imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements has the potential to cause kidney damage. Further, Option A uses the present participle (“verb+ing”- “leading” in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action “have the potential”; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "leading" in this sentence) construction.

B. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly modifies “vitamin supplements” with “that have the potential…”, incorrectly implying that the supplements, themselves have the potential to lead to kidney damage; the intended meaning is that the practice of imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements has the potential to cause kidney damage.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly modifies “vitamin supplements” with “that potentially can…”, incorrectly implying that the supplements, themselves have the potential to lead to kidney damage; the intended meaning is that the practice of imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements has the potential to cause kidney damage.

D. Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies the action of “imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements” with “a practice that can…”, conveying the intended meaning- that many patients overcompensate for the shortcomings in their diet by imbibing a higher than medically recommended amount of vitamin supplements, and the practice of doing so can potentially lead to kidney damage. Further, Option D avoids the verb form error seen in Options A and E by using the verb phrase “can…lead to” and modifying it with the adverb “potentially” rather than using the noun “potential”.

E. Trap. This answer choice uses the present participle (“verb+ing”- “leading” in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action “have the potential”; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "leading" in this sentence) construction.

D is the best answer choice.