Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power alternative

Question

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Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could easily supply all of the US's energy needs, they  would provide vast savings over time, not only in direct upkeep, but also medical costs due to lower cancer rates.

A) Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could easily supply all of the US's energy needs, they

B) Although alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which easily could supply all of the US's energy needs, are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they

C) Although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, solar energy and wind energy are two examples, both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs, alternative energy sources

D) Exemplified by solar energy and wind farms, both of which easily could supply all of the US's energy needs, alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they

E) Alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs, although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they

generis · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

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Official Explanation Magoosh: 
This is a long complicated sentence with a long underlined section. Let's go through the answer choices.

Choice (A) has the subordinate clause ("Although … power"), then the subject ("alternate energy sources"), then some modifiers, then "they would provide". 
Either the noun "alternate energy sources" or the pronoun "they" could be the subject, but they can't both be the subject. 
This one commits the double-subject mistake.

Choice (B) phrases everything correctly and clearly without error. This is promising.

Choice (C) has no verb --- it commits the missing verb mistake. 
The subject, "solar energy and wind energy" never gets a full bona fide verb.

Choice (D) is a run-on sentence. After some modifiers, we have: 
one independent clause, "alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power," 
then a comma, 
then another independent clause starting with "they." 
Separating two independent clauses with only a comma—a "comma splice"—is a sure sign of a run-on sentence.

Choice (E) is also commits the missing verb mistake and the double subject mistake. 
The subject, "Alternative energy sources" never gets a full bona fide verb.
Again, either the noun "alternate energy sources" or the pronoun "they" could be the subject, but they can't both be the subject.

Four answer choices have serious grammatical errors, so choice (B) is the only possible answer.

The answer is B.

NOTES

kungfury42  , you wroe

First, you went the right way: eliminate the four worst answers. 
The one left standing is the least bad of five.

And, as you note, in this question, your issue is not a decision point.

Either the author missed the error, or, much more likely, meant to compare  set up expense. 
→ Option B: Although alternative energy sources . . . are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power  , . . .
This razor's edge is especially thin. It can be difficult to know whether to repeat a verb, especially when that verb is a to be verb.

Would the sentence be clearer if it stated, "Although alternative energy sources . . . are more expensive to set up than is fossil fuel power . . ."?
I am not sure.

COMMENTS

As always, I am glad to see thoughtful engagement with and explanation of this question.

Time for my semi-regular reminder: all aspirants are invited to post.
If you have been hesitating, push through and post.
Don't worry about making a mistake. 
Aspirants who explain answers to GMAT questions do not stumble on such questions.

These answers range from very good to excellent.
Keep up the hard work.

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is (B) . It took me 01:39. (A) "alternative energy sources they would ..." is double subjects: A sentence is incorrect if it contains a double subject—a subject with a pronoun right after it. (Read more at https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/mini ... e-subjects). (B) Subordinate clause: Although alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power Main clause: they would provide vast savings. It is a well-constructed complex sentence. (C) Comma splice, among other issues. Comma splice alone can eliminate it. After "Although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power", there are two independent clause connected via comma only: IC1: solar energy and wind energy are two examples IC2: alternative energy sources would provide vast savings over time. Another issue is that there is no contrast between subordinate clause and IC1. But focus on Comma Splice. (D) Comma Splice. (E) Comma Splice. It is clearer to see comma splice after removing "although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power".

TarunKumar1234 · Answer

Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could easily supply all of the US's energy needs, they would provide vast savings over time, not only in direct upkeep, but also medical costs due to lower cancer rates.

A) Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could easily supply all of the US's energy needs, they -> "alternative energy sources" should be placed first, as solar energy and wind farms are examples. Incorrect.

B) Although alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which easily could supply all of the US's energy needs, are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they -> If we remove distracting parts, then we can read as "Although alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they would provide vast savings over time...." This is better. Let's keep it.

C) Although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, solar energy and wind energy are two examples, both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs, alternative energy sources -> We have two ICs, "Although they (solar energy and wind energy) are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs" and "alternative energy sources would provide vast savings over time....". Two ICs cannot be separated by a comma. Incorrect.

D) Exemplified by solar energy and wind farms, both of which easily could supply all of the US's energy needs, alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they -> Again we have two ICs separated by Comma. Incorrect.

E) Alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and wind farms, both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs, although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they -> Again we have two ICs "Alternative energy sources could supply easily all of the US's energy needs" and "although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they would provide vast savings over time..." separated by a comma. Incorrect.

So, I think B.

kungfury42 · Answer

(A) Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, alternative energy sources,   , they would provide vast savings.  Usage of they seems unnecessary here. Incorrect. Eliminate option A.

(B) Although alternative energy sources,   , are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they would provide vast savings.   Seems very clear in meaning and without any evident grammar errors.

(C) Solar energy and wind energy are two examples, both of which could supply easily all of the US's energy needs.. should modify alternative energy sources,  but the way it has been writen it appears as if it modifies "Although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power" which is incorrect. We can eliminate option C.

(D)    Alternative energy sources are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they would provide vast savings.  Comma splice, there is no FANBOYS between the two independent clauses. We can eliminate D.

(E) Alternative energy sources,   although they are more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power, they would provide vast savings.  The first they seems unnecessary. Incorrect. Eliminate option E.

After analysing all the options, we can get B as the answer, however, I have this doubt:

How can we compare "fossil fuel  power " to alternative sources of energy?

Shouldn't the correct comparison be between "fossil fuels" and alternative sources of energy?

Or between "fossil fuel power" and "power generated by alternative sources of energy"?

Posted from my mobile device

generis · Answer

You can find the official explanation by clicking  here .

VerbalBot · Answer

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Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power alternative

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although more expensive to set up than fossil fuel power alternative

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