For decades Surgeon Generals have warned that smoking

Question

For decades Surgeon Generals have warned that smoking increases the risk of lung diseases, including lung cancer and emphysema,  can complicate pregnancy, and increases the risk of low birth weight 
(A) can complicate pregnancy, and increases the risk of low birth weight
(B) can complicate pregnancy, and increases low birth weight risks
(C) and can complicate pregnancy, increasing the risks of low birth weight
(D) and can complicate pregnancy by increasing the risks of low birth weight
(E) complicating pregnancy by increasing the risks of low birth weight

Please explain your answer choices. Will post the OA later.

elmagnifico · Answer

D for me. 
originally i thought it is B, for parallelism, but D sounds better to me. 
what is the OA?

Richardson · Answer

(C) and can complicate pregnancy, increasing the risks of low birth weight
(D) and can complicate pregnancy by increasing the risks of low birth weight

What makes the pregnacy complicated? It's the increasing the risks of low birth weight. So we need to have "by" in place to complete the meaning.

sun_77 · Answer

For decades Surgeon Generals have warned that smoking increases the risk of lung diseases, including lung cancer and emphysema, and can complicate pregnancy, and increases the risk of low birth weight

(A) can complicate pregnancy, and increases the risk of low birth weight
(B) can complicate pregnancy, and increases low birth weight risks
(C) and can complicate pregnancy, increasing the risks of low birth weight
(D) and can complicate pregnancy by increasing the risks of low birth weight
(E) complicating pregnancy by increasing the risks of low birth weight

"including lung cancer and emphysema" is a modifier. ignore it.

"and" is required since it is the last item in the list of things that smoking does.
We narrow down to C and D.

pregnancy is complicated because the risks of low birth weights are higher not
the other way. So D wins.

IMO D.

rao · Answer

tough ||sm issue. I hate SCs when it comes down to the meaning issue.

Confused between A and C.

"ll go with C

wizardofwashington · Answer

Between C and D, C offers the most logical choice. If I interpret it correctly (from the little medical knowledge I possess), the possible complication in pregnancy does not increase the the risk of low birth weight. It is the smoking that can complicate pregnancy and can result in increasing the risk of low birth weight. So, you don't need the connector "by" used in D.

jatinrai · Answer

Well I think the answer must be A. First note that 'and' is not included before 'can' in option A. That means 'and' is not underlined. If thats the case then C & D are ruled out because we can't have two 'and'.

Bdumpala you must have underlined the original sentence to clarify the ambiguity.

BuddaBelly · Answer

Hmm. I think you do need the connector "by"

If the author was just listing out the 3 effects of smoking, then each point could stand on its own.
1. possible lung diseases
2. complications during pregnancy
3. risks of low birth rate

it is clear that smoking will not induce low birth rate. Therefore, it is safe to assume risk of low birth rate describes the complications of pregnancy.

D imho is correct.

KASSALMD · Answer

low birth weight IS the complication of pregnancy. Therefore......"and can complicate pregnancy (by) increasing the risk of....." is correct.
Therefore C in my opinion

x2suresh · Answer

Guys I removed "and' in the original sentence which seems typo and underlined the part that need to be corrected.

bdumpla: going forward please underline the part that need to be corrected.

It was close call between C and D. Gramatically both looks good.

I agree with wizardofwashington : C makes logical sense than D.

What is OA?
What is the source?

bdumpala · Answer

OA is C

bdumpala · Answer

Hey Guys...

I did underline the SC..please refer to the very beginning of the questions

Thanks

jatinrai · Answer

Hey guys, its urgent. I just came across this question in Kaplan 800. Options C & D dont have 'and' in the beginning. Also the OA given is D & not C as my friend stated.

bigfernhead · Answer

Interesting -

I think the word "and" in the answer choice is critical here.

If the word "and" is removed, then I'd go for D, as C sounds awkward and would have modifying issues.

jatinrai · Answer

Now the post is correct. Earlier it had double and. He must have edited.

icandy · Answer

We need to find something that says smoking does X and Y

E sounds as if risk of LD is complicating pregnancy . wrong

C says Smoking complicates P and then increases the risk. Other way around.

A & B were out to start with.

D remains

elmagnifico · Answer

good job ya'll

For decades Surgeon Generals have warned that smoking

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