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(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
comma + on the basis ... is not a right construction

(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
comma + on the basis ... is not a right construction

(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
wrong usage of in that to convey the actual meaning of the sentence

(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
Correct. It's a reverse form of if-then construction. Then before Accepting is implicit

(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
Change in the intended meaning of the sentence due to usage of while
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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.


(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
there is no meaning depiction as 'the parameters on which it is based'

(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
here also, the meaning is not correct; as the prompt highlights the parameters instead of 'cause and effect'

(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
'solely in that' is too formal an usage

(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
correct attributabilty of 'cause and effect' through the use of the adverbial phrase -- 'if only because'

(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
no 'simultaneous actions' meaning is highlighted as part of the stimulus

(D) is the CORRECT answer
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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone: Incorrect, COMMA is not required before on the basis of...
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone: Incorrect, COMMA is not required before on the grounds of...
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided: Incorrect, COMMA after solely in that turns into a comma splice error.
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided: CORRECT, use of idiom if only because is correct and this is a typical if...then condition sentence. In if.. then clause - would can be used to describe hypothetical subjunctive case.
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided: Incorrect, while is used when both tasks are occurring simultaneously.

IMO D.

Bunuel
Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided


 


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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided

Explanation:

The construction of given sentence is such that it shows that there is an action for a reason i.e. the action should be driven by the reason. Here the former clause in the sentence is the action and the latter clause is the reason.

From the options given, option C and D convey the intended meaning and form 'action-reason' structure.
However, Option C uses a very unnatural style of speaking a sentence, 'solely in that'.
Option D uses the concise, logical phrase 'if only because' to connect the two clauses, showing that the reason alone is sufficient cause for the action.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone: Use of 'on the basis of' is wordy and unnecessary. WRONG
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone: Use of 'on the grounds of' is wordy and unnecessary. WRONG
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided: Unnatural style of speaking. WRONG
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided: CORRECT
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided: Incorrect use of conjunction 'while' which is used to show two or more activities happening almost at the same time. The intended meaning is not met here. WRONG

Option D should be the correct choice.
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(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
There is a subtly blur in meaning here. This choice conveys that the amendment should would be a poor decision because it avoids expanded executive power. So executive that has already been expanded, instead of the expansion of all executive power.

(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
Same issue as with (A).

(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
"In that" is incorrect here, as the the first and second clause are trying to establish a cause and effect. For that reason, "because should be used". There is also a similar blur in meaning as with choices (A) and (B).

(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
Choice (D) correctly conveys the intended meaning and makes use of "because" to firmly establish the cause and effect relationship between the clauses.

(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
The use of "while" here is incorrect. "While", in this context, implies that something is occurring simultaneously, and that is not what the sentence is trying to convey.

ANSWER D
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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone ~ Incorrect parallelism avoidance should be avoiding.
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone ~ Correct usage of on the grounds and avoiding.
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided ~ incorrect past tense avoided is used.
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided ~ incorrect usage of because if only the expansion
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided ~ No contrast is used usage of while is incorrect.

IMO Choice B.
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Option B

(A) on the grounds of - sounds better in this context
(B) Grammatically correct and concise. Right choice
(C) unidiomatic
(D) if only but also structure is not followed
(E) represents contrast but no contrasting fact presented
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Bunuel
Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided


 


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General structure expected: First sentence introduces conclusion, second sentence must be the cause for arriving at the conclusion.

A - on the basis of - (1) this prepositional phrase is used to give a cause or reason - therefore, correct, (2) avoidance - use of noun after the prepositional phrase is correct. However, the meaning that this sentence is conveying is not the intended meaning. Incorrect.

B - (1) this prepositional phrase is used to give a cause or reason in legal language often - therefore, correct, (2) avoiding - use of gerund after the prepositional phrase is incorrect because accepting and avoiding are two events that are not happening simultaneously. We want a cause and effect relationship. Incorrect.

C - solely in that - not correct structure for giving a cause or explanation. Incorrect.

D - If only because - this is used for giving very specific reason or explanation to something - therefore, structure is correct. The meaning conveyed is closer to the intended meaning - "Accepting X is wrong, if only because of Y" - the author is saying that the decision will wrong if you consider only this limitation and nothing else. Structure ✅️ Meaning ✅️

E - We do not want to provide contrast, both the sentences are meant to be in the same direction. Incorrect.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

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Bunuel
Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided


 


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(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone - Incorrect - the usage of alone at the end indicates that something is done in isolation, here we need to draw the attention to the minor reason associated with executive power
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone - Incorrect - Same issue as A
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided - Incorrect - no clear antecedent of that
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided - Correct
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided - Incorrect - meaning issue the usage of while is incorrect here.
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Sentence after comma is modifying the complete clause:- "Accepting .... Court to take".

(A) "on the basis of avoidance of ..." is unnecessarily wordy, we can just write "on the basis of avoiding...". Hence wrong option

(B) Sentence menaing is clearly conveyed. A certain action would be poor decision based on something only. Hence this is correct answer.

(C) "solely in that" is unnecessary here. The meaning is not clear, we are expecting some reason or condition when the decision will be poor, but sentence after comma does not provide that.

(D) This statement does not make logical sense. "The expansion .... should be avoided" is supposed to be modifying the earlier clause. Hence wrong option.

(E) This statement does not make logical sense. "While the expansion .... should be avoided" is supposed to be modifying the earlier clause. Hence wrong option


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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone- noun form avoidance isn’t correct
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone- placement of alone is wrong. Intended meaning is that the reason cited is the only reason
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided- the comma after that doesn’t convey a clear and complete meaning
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided- all other errrors are corrected and meaning is clear
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided- contrast is not required here nor is simultaneously

Ans D

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(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
“on the basis of” + noun. Between a noun and V-ing, GMAT prefers a noun -> correct

(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
Sames as A

(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
“the expansion of executive power should be avoided” modifies the preceeding clause. It gives an explaination why “Accepting...should be a poor decision”

(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
If only = wish + past perfect. “If only” does not go with “because”

(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
“While” is used to link or balance ideas that contrast each other. Howerver, it does not contrast the preceding clause.

The answer is A.
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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone - avoidance of is wordy
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone - correct
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided - doesn’t fit the non underlined bit
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided - doesn’t fit the non underlined bit
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided - doesn’t fit the non underlined bit
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Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone---correct
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone--on the grounds of wrong
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided--wordy...wrong
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided--wrong usage of because
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided--wrong meaning
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A) Wordy, B sounds better
B) Correct Choice. Grammatically and idiomatically correct
C)unidiomatic
D) Sounds regretful which is not the intent
E) no contrast present
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Quote:
Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The word "avoidance" is a noun.


(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
-Suspected to be correct.
Rationale: The word "avoiding" is active tense.


(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The words "solely in that" is not needed.


(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The word "only" is a limiting modifier referring to the Supreme Court's decision.


(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale:The word "while" is past continuous tense.
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Bunuel
Accepting the proposed constitutional amendment would be a poor decision for the Supreme Court to take, on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided


 


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(A) on the basis of avoidance of expanded executive power alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding expanded executive power alone
(C) solely in that, the expansion of executive power should be avoided (Correct. Solely in that is enclosed in comma so it may be excluded, and poor decision for the Supreme Court to take is correctly modifying the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(D) if only because the expansion of executive power should be avoided
(E) while the expansion of executive power should be avoided
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