For eons the idea as to if the X-Men employed an exoskeleton

Question

For eons  the idea as to if the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions;  however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men  may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both  an epidermal structure and as a subdermal structure. 

(A) the idea as to if the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both 
(B) the idea that the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both 
(C) the idea as to whether the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton, a skeletal structure that exists both as 
(D) the idea that the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas basing on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exist both as 
(E) the idea as to whether the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists both as

baski6 · Answer

Caught between C and E.

C seems to be right.

I like the usage whether in the first phrase and so narrowed down to C and E.

I think in the second phrase colon is not required and so go with C.

ak_idc · Answer

Yeah..I too got caught between C and E.

C seems better. E has colon, which may not be needed.

gmatcrook · Answer

Yeah.. tied up between C and E.. 
Sticking to the basics and selecting C.

sumitsarkar82 · Answer

Same here choose C over E...

But when do we use a  colon

Yurik79 · Answer

straight C for me
the reason is that on the real test I would spend at least 3 or 4 minutes and still not sure that I ll figure out right answer.
C is my best choice if I am not sure and just taking a blind shoot.

haas_mba07 · Answer

(C) the idea as to whether the X-Men employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the X-Men may employ an endo-exoskeleton, a skeletal structure that exists both as 

Requires "whether" due to the two options propopsed by "OR" ... 

Only C & E are possible.

E uses ":" which is not necessary.

Answer: C

GMATT73 · Answer

Obviously, this one is going to be on the board for awhile... 8-)

Multiple rules being tested here guys :zoom

buzzgaurav · Answer

Wow, good one MATT.

I'm picking E.
I think the use of colon clearly explains "endo-exoskeleton".

Here's why :

The COLON has two main uses and a number of secondary uses: 

1.) To Introduce Explanations :

Music communicates: it is an expression of feeling.

paddyboy · Answer

# 'whether' needs to be used instead of 'if', since their are two choices. Immediately narrow down to C and E.
# 'a skeletal structure that exists both as ...' is a dependent clause and needs a comma, not a colon.

My choice - C.

gmat_crack · Answer

may employ an endo-exoskeleton:  a skeletal structure that exists as both an epidermal structure and as a subdermal structure . 

Here sentece in bold is an absolute phrase. so there is no need of ":"......

Hence C.

u2lover · Answer

this was brutal indeed Matt...

A "idea as to if"... definitely wrong -> need "whether"... 

B seems like X-Men employed the IDEA, not the other weird stuff.... also "EXISTS AS BOTH A and as B" ... placement of AS before BOTH is wrong.... should be "EXISTS AS BOTH A and B"

  C , skeletal structure.... is a correct modifier...  

D ideas "BASING" wrong use of gerund... Skeletal structure that EXIST -> wrong SVA

E same as C, it seems, but has colon... I think colon usually gives you the list of things, but here it's more of a comparison

buzzgaurav · Answer

Here's a note on COLON usage. It can also be used to give explainations. https://www.writingcenter.emory.edu/colonsemi.html More so, here we are explaining as to what endo-exoskeleton is.

ps_dahiya · Answer

C

The last part in the sentence suggests that we should use "both as X" . So A and B are out.

D has S-V agreement problem. "a skeletal structure that  exist  both as"

Out of C and E, I will prefer C. I don't see any reason to use colon in place of comma.

But lets see what the OA says.

GMATT73 · Answer

Precisely! The colon can be used to define.  

Buzz, got it first. So he is the lucky winner of the X-men's preferred mode of transportation: the 400hp Dodge Tomohawk.

More on the semi-colon/colon can be found here --->https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/col-semi.html

buzzgaurav · Answer

..Now if I win that cookie in the coming weeks, I might just come to collect it personally and give you a free ride as well. :lol:

Nice metal on that machine MATT. I guess it's the fastest bike made yet.

GMATT73 · Answer

Theoretically the fastest bike on the planet (300mp/h : 480kp/h) but nobody has had the nads to top it out yet. :scared

GMATT73 · Answer

Reread the sentence one more time. This is a rare puntuation SC.

For eons the idea as to if the X-Men employed an exoskeleton

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