Forming stunning perches from which hikers can view an endless array

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

This problem features multiple important Decision Points: the choice between “exist” and “exists”/“there is” and “there are”; the choice between “few” and “little”; and the choice between “and” and “or.” If you start with the subject-verb agreement decision points, you can eliminate answer choices B and C first. Since “nutrients” must agree with the verb (agreement by location), “exists” is incorrect and should be “exist.” In answer choice C there is a plural compound noun (nutrients and water) that does not agree with “exists.”

Choices A and D feature a subtle but critical diction error: you cannot have the adjective “little” modifying the noun “nutrients." Think of the logic there: what would constitute "little nutrients"? With a singular noun (such as 'water" or "food") little can mean "not a lot of." But when you place it in front of a plural noun, you're modifying each item and calling it "small" ("there are no little parts, just little actors" as the famous phrase goes). Importantly, when multiple nouns (such as "water" and "nutrients" here) are modified by the same adjective or phrase, you should check to ensure that the modifier can logically apply to all nouns in that series.

In answer choice E, “few” is properly put in front of “nutrients” and “little available” in front of water. There is also proper subject-verb agreement as well as the correct conjunction “and.”

The correct answer choice is E.