Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared wit

Question

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, most cost less, get better gas mileage, and make it easy for passengers to get in and out, and have a smoother, more car-like ride.

(A) and make it easy for passengers to get in and out

(B) and allow passengers to get in and out easily

(C) and allow passengers to get in and out more easily

(D) make it easier for passengers when getting in and out

(E) allow passengers to get in and out more easily

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Hi,

here is a question from GMAT Prep 2

I got the question correct, however, when I was reviewing it, I wasn't sure why the correct answer cannot be "D"

can someone explain the difference between D & E?

thanks,

Show Answer

Official Answer

E

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mikemcgarry · Accepted Answer

Dear zoezhuyan , How are you, my friend? I'm happy to help.

Typically, the structure " make it easy " or " make it easier " is followed by an infinitive, perhaps an infinitive with the subject of the infinitive in a " for " prepositional phrase. . . . make it easy for passengers to get in and out . . . Choice (A) would be correct if it didn't have the " and " at the beginning messing up the parallelism. What's subtle and funny about (D) is that it almost feels as if there's a missing infinitive . . . . . . make it easier for passengers to do something ? when getting in and out . . . Because the infinitive is so often used, and so often follows a " for " preposition, having something else makes the sentence feel as if an infinitive should be there somehow. Also, the construction of (D) is technically illogical--it's a colloquial construction that native speakers use frequently in informal conversation, but it doesn't withstand logical analysis. Here's the correct construction again: . . . make it easy for passengers to get in and out . . . What is made easier? The act of getting in and out. The "dummy it" refers to the infinitive. That make sense. Now, (D). . . . make it easier for passengers when getting in and out . . . What is made easier? The "dummy it" appears to refer to the subordinate clause beginning with " when ." The " when " clause denotes a time. How is time itself "made easier?" Yes, yes, colloquial, people say stuff of this sort all the time (" she made lunchtime easier ," " our end-of-year shopping package makes your holidays easier ") It's colloquial and technically illogical. What is meant is that we something easier for someone at that time--we didn't make it easier for the time itself. All of those are problems with (D). Choice (E) is flawless. The word " allow " is used in an alternate sense. The primary definition has to do with permission (" the teacher allows the student to hand in the assignment a day late "). When it's an individual person doing the " allowing ," then that person has the power to grant permission; when it's the law, though, then it's not so much permission as making something possible for law-abiding citizens. For example, on US roads in most places (not NYC), someone driving can make a right turn at a red light after coming to a full stop---the law " allows " drivers to do that--it's not so much a matter of anyone's "permission," but just the fact that this is a possible legal move. Yes, presumably one always could choose to break the law, but assuming that we want to be on the right side of the law, such an action is possible when the law allows it. Now, rather than the political & social law, think of natural law, such as the Theory of Relativity . For example, the General Theory of Relativity allows for the existence of black holes. Elementary Quantum Mechanics allows an electron, under certain conditions, not to have a definite position. These are not a matter of permission at all, because no human decision makes these things true--each is simply something possible under the theory. All this opens up a more general definition of the verb " allow " when people are not involved. When an inanimate object "allows" something, it is simply makes that thing possible. With this in mind, look at (E): Minivans . . . allow passengers to get in and out more easily In other words, Minivans . . . make it possible for passengers to get in and out more easily That is the intended meaning, and the parallelism is correct. Does all this make sense? Mike

Tamao411284 · Answer

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, most cost less, get better gas mileage, and make it easy for passengers to get in and out, and have a smoother, more car-like ride.

A. and make it easy for passengers to get in and out
B. and allow passengers to get in and out easily
C. and allow passengers to get in and out more easily
D. make it easier for passengers when getting in and out
E. allow passengers to get in and out more easily

The theme concentrates on the positive effects of the minivans against the SUVs, they are cost effective, comparative good mileage ,good in/out facility and smooth ride as cars do.

A- another and changes the meaning of the sentence
B-Same
C-Same
D- it has no direct reference, it should refer to minivans, which is plural
E-Correct

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that minivans allow passengers to get in and out more easily than sports utility vehicles do.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Grammatical Construction

• The absolute form is used to describe something without drawing a comparison; the comparative form is used to compare two elements, and the superlative form is used to compare more than two elements.
• In a list of more than two elements; remember, the “comma + and” (oxford comma) construction is used to join the last element of a list of more than two other elements, and the other elements are linked through commas.

A:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "make it easy"; the use of the absolute adjective "easy" incorrectly implies that minivans allow passengers to get in and out easily,   in general  ; the intended meaning is that minivans allow passengers to get in and out   more easily than sports utility vehicles do  ; remember, the absolute forms are used to describe something without drawing a comparison; the comparative form is used to compare two elements, and the superlative form is used to compare more than two elements. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the oxford comma ("comma + and") to link the second last element - "make it easy for passengers to get in and out" - in a list of more than two elements; remember, the “comma + and” (oxford comma) construction is used to join the last element of a list of more than two other elements, and the other elements are linked through commas.

B:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "get in and out easily"; the use of the absolute adverb "easily" incorrectly implies that minivans allow passengers to get in and out easily,   in general  ; the intended meaning is that minivans allow passengers to get in and out   more easily than sports utility vehicles do  ; remember, the absolute forms are used to describe something without drawing a comparison; the comparative form is used to compare two elements, and the superlative form is used to compare more than two elements. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the oxford comma ("comma + and") to link the second last element - "allow passengers to get in and out easily" - in a list of more than two elements; remember, the “comma + and” (oxford comma) construction is used to join the last element of a list of more than two other elements, and the other elements are linked through commas.

C:  This answer choice incorrectly uses the oxford comma ("comma + and") to link the second last element - "allow passengers to get in and out more easily" - in a list of more than two elements; remember, the “comma + and” (oxford comma) construction is used to join the last element of a list of more than two other elements, and the other elements are linked through commas.

D:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "make it easier for passengers when"; the use of "when" illogically implies that minivans make   some unspecified action   easier for passengers   at that point in time   when they are getting in and out; the intended meaning is that minivans allow passengers   to get in and out   more easily than sports utility vehicles do.

E:   Correct.  This answer choice uses the phrase "to get in and out more easily"; the use of the comparative adverb "more easily" conveys the intended meaning - that minivans allow passengers   to get in and out   more easily   than sports utility vehicles do  . Further, Option E correctly uses a comma to link the second last element - "allow passengers to get in and out more easily" - in a list of more than two elements.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Oxford Comma" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpXSotXBqe4

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

ashnag · Answer

In D , after  when  I would expect a clause, here it's working as a phrase. getting in and getting out should not be split i believe. I would have prefered if the optin was as -  make it easier for passengers to get in or get out

parker · Answer

Good job getting rid of A, B, and C for clear list structure/parallelism violations--there are extraneous appearances of "and" in all three, and there is an absence of the comparison marker "more" in A and B.

"When" is indeed usually followed by a clause, although sometimes this clause can appear in reduced form, without the verb "to be" ("When in Rome...do as the Romans do").

One more point about choice D: the expected idiom, as the previous poster included in his/her preferred option, is "make it easy (for someone)  TO " do something. The thing that is "made easier" in this case is the action of getting in and out . With "when" replacing the proper preposition "to," the meaning of the sentence becomes unclear. What is the "it" that is made easier for the passengers?

Hope this helps.

PS I don't have a problem with the phrase "getting in and out."

varun4s · Answer

most cost less, get better gas mileage,  and make it easy for passengers to get in and out , and have a smoother, more car-like

The comparison should be in parallel. Moreover "and" is used in later part of the sentence , and have a smoother, more car-like . So there is no need to use before it.

So eliminate a, b and c. In D, usage of" it" is wrong.

So E is the answer

Kudos please, if you like my explanation.

zoezhuyan · Answer

dear experts 
  mikemcgarry ,  sayantanc2k ,  GMATNinjaTwo ,  GMATNinja , 
I know this question is not hard, but anyone of you can help explain what's wrong with D
 D) make it easier for passengers when getting in and out
E) allow passengers to get in and out more easily
 
I read the whole thread, but I am afraid I do not fully agree with the discussion about D
1/  it 
I think " it " in choice D is no problematic, because " it " is a dummy pronoun

2/ E is better than D,
I did not choice E because I think the fact that passengers can get in and out more easily is one character of minivans , it is better if describe a character in general pattern, so I think "when getting in and out" is better than "allow" to describe in general pattern, while "allow" feel like "approval".

Thanks a lot
have a nice day

User2541 · Answer

My doubt is between options D and E

In option E, it says move in and out "more" easily. Isnt the word "more" redundant in this case? Why do I need more? The presence of the word "more" made me eliminate E and go for D

snehasissahoo · Answer

Which one should be better :
Minivans have a smoother ride
Minivans allow passengers to have a smoother ride. ?

GMATNinja

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  MayurAhuja ,  more  is actually required here, because the sentence is  comparing   Minivans  vs  sport utility vehicles .

So, the sentence is basically conveying:

Minivans allow passengers to get in and out more easily (than sport utility vehicles allow passengers to get in and out).

GMATNinja · Answer

While the second option might be how you or I would prefer to write the sentence, luckily we do not have to consider changes to the non-underlined portion. The sentence lists a bunch of things in parallel, and one of those things is that "most ... have a smoother, more car-like ride." We can't change this piece, so there's no sense in worrying about better ways to write it.

I hope that helps a bit!

aarkay87 · Answer

Hi Experts,

Even though the difficulty level of this question is low, could you please share your process of elimination for selecting between D and E?

egmat · Answer

Hello aarkay87 , I will be glad to help you with this one.

Choice D: make it easier for passengers when getting in and out : This choice is incorrect because this choice does not really state getting in and out of the minivans is easier. It just states that something is made easier when passengers get in or out of the vehicle. Choice E: allow passengers to get in and out more easily : This choice is indeed correct as it succinctly and clearly presents the intended meaning. Hope this helps.

Thanks. Shraddha

Pankaj0901 · Answer

In the Option C, can I not consider the list of elements as below? This makes the two "and" compulsory, where the last one is nested inside the main list.

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, 
- most cost less, 
- get better gas mileage, 
and 
-  allow passengers to   get in and out more easily , and  have a smoother, more car-like ride .

The last item is nothing but:
allow passengers to get in and our more easily, and {allow passengers to} have a smoother, more car-like ride.

Why is this structure (Option C) wrong?

AndrewN  request your thoughts.

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Pankaj0901 . It is true that any item in a list may branch internally. But in such cases, we expect to see one of two stylistic options to cue us in on how to interpret the list:

1) No comma before  and  within the last item— minivans cost less, get better gas mileage, and make X and have Y 
 Reason : A comma before the second  and , combined with the different verbs in  make  and  have , would make the sentence appear to be adding a fourth item in the list, in which case we may wonder why  and  was placed ahead of the third item.

2) Semicolons instead of commas to separate items in the list when any item within that list contains commas— minivans cost less; get better gas mileage; and make X, and have Y 
 Reason : A visual cue that each item in a list has been completed reduces the probability that a reader will become confused about the branching third item.

I am not going to tell you that in a standalone sentence, the usage of a comma plus  and  to introduce a phrase, rather than a clause, is incorrect. If only grammatical conventions were so easy to pin down. But when the punctuation and a word as simple as  and  seem to paint two equally valid yet different pictures of the same sentence (three items or four in the list?), then we should look for a way to add clarity to the writing. That consideration, ultimately, allows us to rule out (C).

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew

Pankaj0901 · Answer

This perfectly makes sense. Thank you  ANDREW

krndatta · Answer

EducationAisle  sir,

Can you share your reasoning for eliminating option D?

EducationAisle · Answer

D says:  make it easier for passengers when getting in and out

Make  what  easier for passengers? D does not answer this question.

Following would have been better:

make it easier for passengers to get in and out

Make  what  easier for passengers? Answer:  to get in and out .

varshas044 · Answer

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, most cost less, get better gas mileage,  and make it easy for passengers to get in and out , and have a smoother, more car-like ride.

(A)  and  make it easy for passengers to get in and out --- usage of “and” is wrong because we have one more list item as indicated by the non-underline part after  INCORRECT

(B)  and  allow passengers to get in and out easily --- same error as OA --- INCORRECT

(C)  and  allow passengers to get in and out more easily ---- same error as OA and OB ---- INOCRRECT

(D) make  it  easier for passengers  when getting in and out  ---- construction is awkward, plus “it” is a hanging pronoun here that refers to nothing. and there is subtle meaning error ---- INOCRRECT

(E) allow passengers to get in and out more easily ---- CORRECT because of list parallelism

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared wit

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Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared wit

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