Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Amardeep Sharma wrote:
The computer software being designed for a project studying Native American access to higher education will not only meet the needs of that study, but also has the versatility and power of facilitating similar research endeavors.
(A) but also has the versatility and power of facilitating
(B) but also have the versatility and power to facilitate
(C) but it also has the versatility and power to facilitate
(D) and also have the versatility and power of facilitating
(E) and it also has such versatility and power that it can facilitate
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Idioms + Verb Forms• The simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• For referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + facilitate" in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facilitating" in this sentence).
• “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
A: Trap.
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "has" to refer to an action that will take place in the future; remember, the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
2/ Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facilitating" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "has the versatility and power"; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facilitating" in this sentence).
B: Correct.1/ This answer choice correctly uses the simple future tense verb "will...have" to refer to an action that will take place in the future.
2/ Option B correctly uses the idiomatic construction "not only A but also B", maintaining parallelism between A ("meet the needs of that study") and B ("have the versatility and power").
3/ Option B uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + facilitate") in this question to refer to the purpose of the action "will...have the versatility and power.
C: Trap.
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "has" to refer to an action that will take place in the future; remember, the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
2/ Option C fails to maintain parallelism between A ("meet the needs of that study") and B ("it also has the versatility and power") in the idiomatic construction "not only A but B"; remember, “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
D:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "not only A and also B"; remember, “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
2/ Option D uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facilitating" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "has the versatility and power"; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facilitating" in this sentence).
E:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "has" to refer to an action that will take place in the future; remember, the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
2/ Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "not only A and also B"; remember, “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Infinitive" versus "Present Participle", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team