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Answer: (B)

(A): Comma splice
(B): Correct
(C): Missing a comma before "rather"
(D): Comma splice
(E): I have no idea what's happening with this one
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Answer: B

not the active, "describes active stage" but the inactive, "describe inactive stage" correct.

(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
only B matches the structure.
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas 🎅 GMAT Competition with Lots of Questions & Fun

The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage, during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage << CORRECT
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage

 


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B is correct
A -> rather than being the active -> parallelism issue (Being active, flowering stage is not // with the inactive, dormant stage)
C -> "during which" should modify dormant stage not flowering stage
D -> instead of being the active -> same as A
E -> redundancy (instead of, rather)
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IMO answer is (A)

After removing modifier sentence would be "The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area would be the inactive"

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage

Rather than is correctly used and which in non underline portion correctly modifying dormant stage.

(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage

Removing modifier, sentence doesn't make sense. Further not the active give cause effect relation for which we need but. But is in comma hence doesn't form correct structure.

(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage

See non underline part during which is modifying flowering stage instead of dormant

(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage

Rather than shows preference of choice where as instead shows a replacement

(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage

Rather than shows preference of choice where as instead shows a replacement. Further uses of both is redundant here
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas 🎅 GMAT Competition with Lots of Questions & Fun

The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage, during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage



 


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(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage ~ Being makes the sentence wordy.

(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage ~ Correct usage of not X....but Y

(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage " flowering stage" incorrectly modifies the non-underlined portion, "dormant stage" is the correct phrase.

(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage ~ Being makes the sentence wordy.

(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage ~ redundancy issue usage of both "instead of" and "rather"

IMO B.
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas 🎅 GMAT Competition with Lots of Questions & Fun

The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage, during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage



 


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B should be the answer , following correct idiomatic structure Not X but Y.
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The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage, during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage

Explanation: The original underlined phrase conveys the intended meaning and maintains the clarity and coherence of the sentence structure. Let's check other options as well.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
As discussed above, let's keep this option.

(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
This option changes the structure of the sentence and alters the intended meaning. The original sentence emphasizes that the most favorable time for moving the plant to a growing area is during the inactive, dormant stage, rather than the active, flowering stage. Also the parallelism is not maintained here. INCORRECT

(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
Similar to Option B, this option changes the structure of the sentence and alters the intended meaning. It suggests that the active, flowering stage is the stage during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth. INCORRECT

(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
This option is similar in structure to the original option A with the difference in the use of 'rather than' and 'instead of'.
'Rather than' is often used to present a contrast or alternative between two options. It implies a choice between two possibilities and suggests that one option is preferred over the other. In this case, it emphasizes that the dormant stage is preferred over the active, flowering stage for moving the plant to a growing area.

'Instead of' is also used to present a contrast or substitution between two options. It suggests that one option is chosen or used in place of another. In this context, it implies that the dormant stage is used or selected as a replacement for the active, flowering stage when moving the plant to a growing area. Here per then intended meaning 'rather than' should be used. INCORRECT

(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage
This option also changes the structure of the sentence and introduces unnecessary complexity by using 'instead of' and 'rather' in the same sentence in a way that disrupts the clarity and flow of the sentence. INCORRECT

Option A is the right answer.
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A) Makes it seem as if the time is being the active, flowering stage of the plant.
B) Correct construction.
C) The non-underlined portion does not match with the active, flowering stage. It means that the active stage is able to bear the stress.
D) Same as A.
E) Usage of 'instead of' and 'rather' is redundant.
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas 🎅 GMAT Competition with Lots of Questions & Fun

The most favorable time for moving a plant to a growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage, during which the plant can afford to bear the stress that replanting causes, without suffering from stunted leaf growth.

(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage

 


This question was provided by Experts'Global
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $25,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

 



(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
-- 'being' is incorrectly used here

(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage
-- correct structure

(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage
-- the modifier "during which..." gets somehow incorrectly placed near the 'active. flowering stage'

(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage
-- 'being' usage incorrect here

(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage
-- 'instead' and 'rather' are redundant

Option B
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(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage => "rather than being" => wordy and weird, not straitforward
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage => seems legit.
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage => change of meaning, it's the oppposite that is stated;
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage => "instead of being" => wordy and weird, not straitforward
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage => "instead"+ "rather" repetition not needed

So Answer B
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(A) growing area, rather than being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage simple present tense required not would.
(B) growing area is not the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle but the inactive, dormant stage correct
(C) growing area is the inactive, dormant stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle rather than the active, flowering stage wronly explains the activate stage instead of inactive stage
(D) growing area, instead of being the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, would be the inactive, dormant stage being active is wrong..would is wrong
(E) growing area is, instead of the active, flowering stage of the plant’s reproductive cycle, rather the inactive, dormant stage is .........rather?


Ans B
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