Certain gerontologists have reported that the more older people contin

Question

Certain gerontologists have reported that the more older people continue to challenge their brains with reading, writing, and other thought-provoking exercises,  their cognitive functions are less likely to diminish.

(A) their cognitive functions are less likely to diminish.

(B) the less likely are their cognitive functions to be diminished.

(C) the less are they likely to have diminished cognitive function.

(D) the less likely their cognitive functions will diminish.

(E) they are less likely to have diminished cognitive function.

raconteur · Answer

D for me.

The parallelism "the more X ...the less Y" should pop out at you. That quickly eliminates A and E.

C. "the less are they likely to" is wordy and not necessary
B. "the less likely" is good. However, "are their cognitive functions to be diminished" is wordy/awkward. "to be diminished" is especially wordy - should be "to diminish".
 D. Clean/concise. "their" refers back to older people. Correct.

Sunny143 · Answer

The more the.X...............................the less/more Y

A and E out
B --- Use of to be...likely to be wrong on GMAT and "are" breaks the parallelism.
C. "Are" breaks the ||ism. Also use of infinitive "to have"

Will go with D.

aviator83 · Answer

OA is (D).

How does "are" in (B) break parallelism and why is the use of "to be.." wrong on GMAT in this case ??

ldpedroso · Answer

Isn't there a lack of parallelism at the answer in D?

The phrase says "that the more the older people  continue  to challenge thier brains", wich is in the present, and answer (D) says "the less likely their cognitive functions  will  diminish", wich is in the future. Is that correct?

paras123 · Answer

bump - can anyone clear the last query by idpedroso

jitgoel · Answer

From the given choices we have to find out which is the best.

'D' shows parallelism

paras123 · Answer

you doesn't get the query.

the query is regarding the shift in the tense. the non underlined part has used simple present while the OA underlined portion is using the future tense "will".
the question is whether the two tenses should be consistent as they are in the same time frame

saikarthikreddy · Answer

Raconteur explained it well .
The final options are only between B and D.
But because of the passive element 'be' in option B ,it is eliminated.
And regarding the tense change in the two parallel elements ,it is allowed in gmat .
The structure the more ....the less is important here .

jitgoel · Answer

According to MGMAT guide on the verbal, present and future tense can be in parallel during parallel comparison.

daagh · Answer

@ldpedroso

There is a subtle conditionality involved in the text. It actually means that if the older people continue to challenge their brains with reading, writing, and other thought provoking exercises more , then the less likely that they will diminish their cognitive functions.

in a conditional sentence, the if sentence will be always in present tense, while the then sentence can be in either present tense or future tense. Therefore it is acceptable. D is okay IMO.

paras123 · Answer

now this is making some sense.
thanks for clearing the air daagh.
here the kudos goes for u

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The beginnings of the five choices present you with three options, forcing you to decide whether the less or they/their is correct. The non-underlined portion makes the decision for you; since it contains the phrase the more, the correct answer needs to parallel that structure in a parallel location and begin with the less. Eliminate (A) and (E). Comparing the remaining choices, you see that you have the less are they likely and the less likely their. The second phrasing is grammatically correct and parallel while the first, by separating less and likely, is unidiomatic. That leaves you with (D).

VerbalBot · Answer

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Certain gerontologists have reported that the more older people contin

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