Investing in resources such as employees and technology is often more

Question

Investing in resources such as employees and technology  is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut  costs in these areas.

(A) is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut

(B) are often part of a more profitable long-term strategy than would be trying to cut

(C) is often a more profitable strategy over the long term than is trying to cut

(D) often leads to greater profits over the long term than does trying and cutting

(E) result often in larger profits than cutbacks in these areas

Day 14 Question of the Verbal Contest: GMAT Club RATT Race 
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souvik101990 · Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (C) 
In the given sentence, a comparison is made using the construction “more . . . than,” and comparisons need to be between things of the same type expressed in the same grammatical form. This sentence is comparing “ nvesting” with “to try.” “Investing” is a gerund (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun), while “to try” is an infinitive (the to form of a verb, in this case also being used as a noun). These terms are not in the same form, so this error needs to be fixed. Eliminate choice (A). 
One way to analyze the remaining answer choices is to look at the verbs at the beginning. Though subtler than in some questions, a 3-2 split exists between a singular and plural verb. The subject of the verb is “Investing.” (Recall that the subject of a sentence never resides in a prepositional phrase, which is what “in resources such as employees and technology” is.) “Investing” is singular, so answer choice (B), with “are,” and choice (E), with “result,” are incorrect. Choice (E) also contains an illogical comparison and alters the meaning of the sentence, as its construction indicates that “profits” are larger than “cutbacks.” Eliminate (B) and (E).
Choices (C) and (D) both use a singular verb at the outset and have no errors until after the word “than.” Here, choice (D) uses the wrong idiom. The correct phrase is “try  to  ,” not “try  and  .” Answer choice (C) is correct.

Vikas10 · Answer

Seems C to me.

Investing in resources such as employees and technology is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut costs in these areas.

(A) is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut
 
 ---Investing and to try is not parallel

(B) are often part of a more profitable long-term strategy than would be trying to cut

----Investing is singular

(C) is often a more profitable strategy over the long term than is trying to cut

(D) often leads to greater profits over the long term than does trying and cutting

--- trying and cutting is wrong.

(E) result often in larger profits than cutbacks in these areas

---investing and cutbacks are not parallel.

Abhishek009 · Answer

With Vikas10 IMHO (C) as well Errors according to me are highlighted in red .. :-D

JackH · Answer

Its a comparison question and between option C and D, which seem correct in comparing "subject - subject" aspect, at first I thought C changes the meaning slightly by mentioning the "profitable strategy" instead of profits but thats not a deciding factor. Option D seems correct but there is an error in verb number "does" when it mentioned two activities - trying and cutting. Hence option C is the best answer.

JSS16 · Answer

Definitely C

First step should be to eliminate all answers except A and C as "Investing" is a singular act that should be represented by "is". Then eliminate A because "Investing....try" is not parallel. Answer C correctly uses singular form "is" and "trying" is parallel to "Investing".

spetznaz · Answer

C it is .. well explained in posts above. Basically, it boils down to SVA and parallelism.

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

Good comparison question. OE is explained thoroughly by souvik101990

Gerund vs infinitive Investing in resources such as employees and technology is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut costs in these areas. (A) is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut (B) are often part of a more profitable long-term strategy than would be trying to cut (C) is often a more profitable strategy over the long term than is trying to cut (D) often leads to greater profits over the long term than does trying and cutting (E) result often in larger profits than cutbacks in these areas

JenniferAtKaplan · Answer

Well done by all who commented on this question! Our team at Kaplan wishes you the best in your continued studies!

Best,
Jennifer

mvictor · Answer

without doubt
investing is singular - therefore we need a verb in singular form.
investing is more profitable than cutting costs is.
only C fits

Basshead · Answer

Investing in resources such as employees and technology  is often more profitable over the long term than is to try to cut  costs in these areas.

(A) is often more profitable over the long term than is  to try  to cut

(B)  are  often part of a more profitable long-term strategy than would be trying to cut

(C)  is often a more profitable strategy over the long term than is trying to cut

(D) often leads to greater profits over the long term than does  trying and cutting

(E) result often in larger profits than  cutbacks in these areas

Answer is C; the wrong answers have parallelism errors.

Investing in resources such as employees and technology is often more

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Investing in resources such as employees and technology is often more

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