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SajjadAhmad
Rationalizing the protracted and bloody war with the Philippines, President McKinley described the process of subjugating the Filipinos as “benign assimilation.”

(A) Rationalizing the protracted and bloody war

(B) To rationalize the protracted war and bloody war

(C) The protracted and bloody war was rationalized

(D) Rationalizing the war, which was protracted as well as bloody

(E) To rationalize the war, a protracted and bloody one

Source: Master GMAT

Hello guys!

Using POE,

Option A looks good. Let's keep it!

Eliminate Option B, the dual usage here makes it wordy.

Eliminate Option C, incorrect usage of 'with' for rationalised.

Eliminate Option D, wordy and distorts the meaning of the sentence.

Eliminate Option E, it is not on point. Same as D

Option A has no errors and is apt.

Official Answer:- Option A


Thank you!

Regards,
Raunak Damle
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Dear Expert
Please let us know why option B- "To rationalise" is not correct? Can you please give a rule around it?? I have seen it happening in many Q.
Thanks in advance.
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Gauriii
Dear Expert
Please let us know why option B- "To rationalise" is not correct? Can you please give a rule around it?? I have seen it happening in many Q.
Thanks in advance.

Hi Gaurii

The nuance in this lies in the intended meaning of the sentence.

"To + verb" structure, such as "To rationalize" in option (B) is used to show intent ie; when an action is undertaking with the intent of achieving a result. If we were to use that here, it would mean that President McKinley "described the process of subjugating the Filipinos as “benign assimilation.”" with the intent of rationalizing the war in the Philippines.

However, we can see that this is not the intent of the sentence. The sentence is actually trying to say that President McKinley "described the process of subjugating the Filipinos as “benign assimilation.”", and thereby ended up rationalizing the war in the Philippines. Hence, "to + verb" structure is not appropriate here. "Verb + ing" modifier at the beginning of the sentence, which modifies the subject of the following clause (President McKinley) is the correct usage.

Hope this clarifies.
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