To construct general-purpose industrial robots that could approximate

Question

To construct general-purpose industrial robots that could approximate human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities would  be both extremely difficult and would waste resources since  less costly special-purpose robots can already surpass human beings at many specific tasks.

A. be both extremely difficult and would waste resources since
B. be both extremely difficult as well as a waste of resources as
C. both be extremely difficult and a waste of resources as
D. both be extremely difficult as well as waste resources since
E. be extremely difficult and would waste resources as well since

hiranmay · Accepted Answer

To construct general-purpose industrial robots that could approximate human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities would  be both extremely difficult and would waste resources since  less costly special-purpose robots can already surpass human beings at many specific tasks.

A. be  both  extremely difficult  and   would  waste resources since --> "both ... and ..." construction is not parallel: both  extremely difficult  and  would waste 
B. be  both  extremely difficult  as well as  a waste of resources as --> "both ... as well as .." is wrong idiom
C.  both  be extremely difficult  and   a waste  of resources as --> same as A
D.  both  be extremely difficult  as well as  waste resources since --> same as B
E. be extremely difficult and would waste resources as well since -->  correct

ankitamundhra28 · Answer

Hi Expert

I'd be glad if you could please help with the detailed solution. 
Had there be an option "be both extremely difficult and a waste of resources as", would it be the correct answer choice for this question?
In option B, is the use of 'as well as' the only error, which, if rectified as above, would make it the correct choice?

Thanks in advance! 
Ankita

surbhi1991 · Answer

Hi

What is wrong with Option C?

Also in option E isn't the use of 'and' and 'as well' redundant?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Option C is:

both   be extremely difficult   and   a waste of resources  as

The first element ( be ) is not parallel to the second ( a waste ).

Commendlionel · Answer

The "since" used to explain "less costly special-purpose robots can already surpass human beings..." is used to elaborate only the latter description which is the construction of robots being a waste of resources, and does not address it being extremely difficult as well.

Hence, the word "both" is not necessary here as the two items are not intended to be grouped when preceding "less costly special-purpose robots can already surpass human beings...".

Answer is E: To construct general-purpose industrial robots... --> (would be extremely difficult) --> and --> (would waste resources as well since less costly special-purpose...).

paridhibajaj · Answer

Hi, can an expert please explain this?

souvik101990 · Answer

Okay so this is a classic parallelism question. When we see BOTH in the GMAT, it almost always needs to follow an AND! Also, the thing following BOTH needs to be strictly parallel to the thing following the AND. For example,

Charles, aka GMAT Ninja, is both a cerified genius and an amazing human being.

The two things after  both  and  and  are:

1. a certified genius
2. an amazing human being

are they strictly parallel? Yup! So GMAT likes this.

Similarly,

Charles, aka GMAT Ninja, is a great tutor both because he is empathetic to his students and because he has years of experience teaching.

Here  both  and  and  connect

1. because he is empathetic 
2. because he has years of experience teaching

Are they parallel? Absolutely! Also, works!

BUT,

Charles, aka GMAT Ninja, is both a passionate food critic and he is also an amazing teacher.

Here,  both  and  and  connect

1. a passionate food critic
2. he is also an amazing teacher

Are they parallel? NO. GMAT hates this sentence.

Now use this logic to the original question and you will see that none of the choices have appropriately parallel things following BOTH and AND. The sentence that does not use BOTH at all is the right one.

To construct general-purpose industrial robots that could approximate

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To construct general-purpose industrial robots that could approximate

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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My Rewards