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vikrantsharma725@gmail.com
i have one doubt about A. since "intake" is acting as subject so verb "increase" should be followed by "s". so why A is correct?

Increase is preceded by helping verb "May" . The complete sentence (without modifiers) reads as intake may actually increase ......the presence of may commands a plural form of the verb.

Hope its clear.
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Abhishek009
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Option A it is ...Can you specify the source ?

Absolutely no idea about the source but (A) can be a possible answer !!

A. .....may actually increase........... = Possibility

B. ....actually increases......... = Certainty

Hence IMHO (A) , because it refers to a possibility..


isn't an intake singular?

an intake of Vit E ...... increase
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Can someone answer "what is increase in option A? (verb.?)" If it is a verb, what is the subject of it.?
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Snayt
Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses, despite the claims of thousands of people who swear by it as a dietary supplement.

(A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses

(B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses

(C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies

(D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses

(E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


The original sentence is clear, and is phrased in the most economical way.

(A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The phrase “actually increases” has a stronger meaning than the author intended - that high vitamin E consumption “may actually increase” certain risks.

(C) The phrasing of “certain illnesses may be at a higher risk” is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It is not the illnesses that are at higher risk, but rather people who consume too much vitamin E. In addition, the placement of the modifying phrase “according to recent studies” is awkward, seemingly referring to a “balanced diet” when it should be modifying vitamin E intake. Finally, “if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet” should read “if vitamin E is taken in excess of that (vitamin E) found naturally in a balanced diet.”

(D) “The intake of vitamin E…may actually increase developing certain illnesses” is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It would be more accurate to state that excess intake of vitamin E may increase the risk of developing certain illnesses. Even if this choice had the correct meaning, the choice of words would still have been faulty: it should read “increase the development of certain illnesses” not “increase developing certain illnesses.”

(E) “Vitamin E…may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses” is awkward and has an unintended meaning. It would be more accurate to state that excess intake of vitamin E may actually increase the risk. Additionally, “the development risk of certain illnesses” is misleading; it should be “the risk of (a person) developing certain illnesses.”
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I elim A b/c suggest and may i thought was redundant. does anyone know whether that's not true or why it's acceptable?

many thanks for the help :)
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Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses, despite the claims of thousands of people who swear by it as a dietary supplement.

(A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses -Correct

(B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses -"That" doesn't have noun reference; changes the meaning

(C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies -awkward

(D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses -developing?

(E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses -nonsensical
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In choice A, can the phrase "may actually ..." be together?

It's quite weird to have "may", which expresses some kind of uncertainty with "actually",which expresses some kind of certainty or truth?

Expert please explain.

Thank you.
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Snayt
Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses, despite the claims of thousands of people who swear by it as a dietary supplement.

(A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses

(B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses

(C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies

(D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses

(E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses

I am confused E. Does "if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet" works as subjunctive mood? Does the clause " if xx" is fragment? many thanks~
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chan4312
B alters the meaning of the original sentence ? ...we dont have 'may' in the 'B'.
Study is not confirming that the results are 100% acurate.

Imo A
True I missed it as well. Tricky
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I chose B over A because I thought "may" and "actually" are redundant in a sentence. B eliminates this redundancy.
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There's no redundancy or contradiction between "may" and "actually." We can safely say "intake may increase the risk" or "intake increases the risk" without adding the word "actually," so sure, it isn't essential. However, it serves to provide a bit of contrast to expectation. People think it is helpful, but actually, it may increase the risk of disease.

As for "suggest" and "may," that combo does seem like a bit of overkill, but others have pointed out the fatal flaw in B: by switching from "the intake" to "taking," we've removed the antecedent for "that found naturally."
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daagh
A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses --- suggest and may increase are redundant

B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses – correct choice

C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies ---changes the meaning ; says the Vitamin is taken in excess of a balanced diet rather that found naturally in a balanced diet.

D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses – Changed meaning: it will increase the risk of development of certain diseases and not increase developing certain illness.

E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses – suggest and may increase redundancy

silent and subtle error; nice question




Actually NO, we can not choose correct answer choice in this question by analysing use of "MAY" alters the meaning as there is no reference about use or "may" is correct or incorrect.
the zest of this question is test knowledge of "subjunctive verb"
subjunctive verb is always used as plural------suggest/recommend/demand,etc followed by that will always use plural verb form. here :"studies suggest that an intake(subject) must use plural verb INCREASE not INCREASES.

hope this explains n correct me if i'm wrong
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I read in some other example I can't recall right now that studies suggest something with certainity rather than "may". That is why I chose B. Can someone please explain why A is better than B ? There are many conflicting explanations over here.
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GMATNinja can you please help out here in deciding the better of options b and a?
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daagh
A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses --- suggest and may increase are redundant

B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses – correct choice

C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies ---changes the meaning ; says the Vitamin is taken in excess of a balanced diet rather that found naturally in a balanced diet.

D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses – Changed meaning: it will increase the risk of development of certain diseases and not increase developing certain illness.

E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses – suggest and may increase redundancy

silent and subtle error; nice question

There seems to be some discrepancy in the official answer choice. Can someone let me know the funda of the usage of modal verbs in subjunctive constructions, when it is redundant and when it is not redundant?

Regards
Vighnesh
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VIGHNESHKAMATH
daagh
A) Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses --- suggest and may increase are redundant

B) Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses – correct choice

C) Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies ---changes the meaning ; says the Vitamin is taken in excess of a balanced diet rather that found naturally in a balanced diet.

D) According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses – Changed meaning: it will increase the risk of development of certain diseases and not increase developing certain illness.

E) Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses – suggest and may increase redundancy

silent and subtle error; nice question

There seems to be some discrepancy in the official answer choice. Can someone let me know the funda of the usage of modal verbs in subjunctive constructions, when it is redundant and when it is not redundant?

Regards
Vighnesh

Hello VIGHNESHKAMATH,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your question, modal verbs are redundant in subjunctive constructions if the verb in question conveys the same meaning that the subjunctive usage conveys.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Hi ,

How to find out that it is a possibility that intake of vitamin E actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses?

Why "May" is required in the correct sentence?
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