Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that f

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
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Dear kinjiGC,
I'm responding to your p.m., and I am happy to help.

This can be a very tricky issue about SV agreement for non-native speakers: the role of auxiliary verbs (a.k.a helping verbs).
BIG IDEA #1: Any change in the verb due to number is reflected ONLY in the first auxiliary verb.
If there are two, or three, words in the verb, the first is the only one that will reflect a change due to number.
I was reading.
There were reading.
I have been there.
He has been there.
I have been listening to Mozart.
He has been listening to Mozart.

BIG IDEA #2: Some auxiliary verbs (has/have, was/were, etc.) change form from singular to plural, but many (may, can, should, etc.) do not change form at all due to number. If one of these latter verbs is the auxiliary verb, then the verb as a whole exhibits absolutely no change from singular to plural.
I may go to that.
He may go to that.
They may go to that.
I should exercise.
He should exercise.
They should exercise.
I must leave.
He must leave.
They must leave.
In all of those cases, the auxiliary verb has the same form in singular and plural, so the entire verb is identical in singular and plural. For more examples of auxiliary verbs, see:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/auxiliary- ... -the-gmat/

Does all this make sense?
Mike
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B too
Suggest THAT. TAKING is better than INTAKE OF

I went for A. "that" takes the "an intake".

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

C is my pick. Vitamin E should use increases not increase. hence left with B and C. Intially I selected B, but on second thought C is the best.

A ..I think. B & C distort the meaning from a 'may be' to a 'certainty'. What is the OA?

When I deal with this question! I initially chose A for a simple reason: A contains MAY while B does not. SUGGEST ... (UNKNOWN - in A) vs. SUGGEST... (KNOWN - in B).
After rethinking I choose B rather than B because B has TAKING VITAMIN sounds better than INTAKE OF.

Well, I lose!

IMO A

E: out (just look at it)
D: increase developing seems incorrect
C: may be at a higher risk of development seems wordy

B vs. A: I think that may before actually is connected with the meaning of the sentence, since it is surprising that the intake of a vitamin can cause certain illnesses. Without may it seems as the study found the confirmation of something that was thought to be. That's how I see it..
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IMO A.
B changes the meaning by removing "may"
C - wrong meaning - illness cannot be at risk
D and E - too wordy and awkard

Also, notice the "despite" in non-underlined section which means the underlined section should be contradictory.
Recent studies suggest X, despite Y.
Hence C, D and E are out. B alters intent by removing may.
Hence A should be correct. What's the OA?

my understanding:
it boils down to A n B

recent studies suggest something , what does it suggest?
A: THAT...............The intake of vitamin E may increase the risk of developing Y

B: THAT.................Taking vitamin E increases the risk of developing Y

The Intake outweighs Taking in the above construction

Furthermore I second dheeraj wrt drop of may in B ( the intent of the sentence : recent studies/findings suggest X may lead to Y ) and A perfectly fits the bill.

Leading to A my take

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 answer

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 – removes may and hence modifies 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 – This sentence misses Risk and hence modifies the meaning .

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 : misses intake ad modifies the meaning.

Anybody can clarify why verb is plural in Correct Option 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
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Many thanks !!!

It makes perfect sense. Thanks a ton !!!
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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.

since studies suggest-------it has to have "may"........
you cant take in vitamin E..... it has to be intake of vitamin "E"....

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 ....incorrect

This is a subjunctive type sc. So after suggest we need that and verb. A is correct.

B is wrong because taking is not a verb in this case.

OA is A (Source : MGMAT)
Actual Sentence says that Intake of Vitamin E MAY Actually increase the risk.
B - changes the meaning by saying that Intake Vitamin E Actually increase risk.(it makes the case more certain by removing MAY.)

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..
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