GMAT-PrepSC1

lewsm, how z the usage of while and at the same time redundant? A is also using both but it is correct.
quote="leswm"]Remove everything between the commas (or dashes) and you'll clearly see why A is correct.

A) they denounce big govt., ... , while at the same time supporting many programs.
B) they denounce big govt., ... , but supporting at the same time many programs.
>> it should be supporting X at the same time OR at the same time supporting X.
>> the part after the conjunction 'but' should be an independent sentence with a noun. i.e. they denounce big govt, but they support X at the same time.
C) they denounce big govt., ... , while they support at the same time many programs.
>> while and 'at the same time' is redundant
>> just like B, support X at the same time
D) while they denounce big govt, ..., at the same time supporting many programs.
>> while and 'at the same time' is redundant
E) while they are denouncing big govt,...., supporting at the same time programs.
>> >> while and 'at the same time' is redundant[/quote]

Good point ritula, I can't defend the redundancy theory for A. If you ignore my comments about redundancy, you can still see why the answers are still wrong.

A) they denounce big govt., ... , while at the same time supporting many programs.
B) they denounce big govt., ... , but supporting at the same time many programs.
>> it should be supporting X at the same time OR at the same time supporting X.
>> the part after the conjunction 'but' should be an independent sentence with a noun. i.e. they denounce big govt, but they support X at the same time.
C) they denounce big govt., ... , while they support at the same time many programs.
>> just like B, support X at the same time
D) while they denounce big govt, ..., at the same time supporting many programs.
>> while X, Y. The 2nd part of sentence i.e. Y should be an independent clause/sentence. e.g. while they shower, they sing. You don't say - while they shower, singing. However, if you re-order the sentence to: They X while Y, then you could say: they shower, while singing (this makes A fine)
E) while they are denouncing big govt,...., supporting at the same time programs.
>> same as D, the 2nd part of sentence should form an independent clause.
>> also same issue with B: supporting X at the same time.

Since the original sentence uses a semi-colon, the two sides of semi-colon should be two independent sentences. With this logic, options D and E are out.

Option C has run-on sentence "then denounce the government, they say.....". Hence, out.

Option B has the issue of parallel comparison "they denounce.......but supporting...".

Hence, A is the only option left.