The corporation's decision to deceive the public was morally

The corporation's decision to deceive the public should be described in same format morally reprehensible, financially costly, and obviously illegal.

Is the answer B. Maintains parallelism and meaning.

Sent from my SM-G920I using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Yes the answer is B as it maintains parallelism and meaning.

Answer is B. parallelism and meaning is correct.

How does one choose between options B and E?

Hello BobFrank,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe we can resolve your doubt.

Option E alters the meaning of the sentence, as it omits the adverb "obviously". The intended meaning also includes the fact that it was obvious that the company's decision was illegal.

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

There is no way to choose between (B) and (B) in GMAT terms. Both the (B) version and the (E) version are grammatically correct and effectively convey meanings that make sense. So, according to the standards that make a choice correct in GMAT SC, both (B) and (E) are correct.

So, the only way to choose between (B) and (E) is to consider what this question writer probably considers correct, and there are two clues indicating what the question writer considers correct.

Since most versions use the adverb "obviously," but the (E) version does not, the question writer probably considers (B) the correct answer.

Also, it's a good bet that the question writer believes that "morally reprehensible, financially costly, and obviously illegal" is more correctly parallel than "morally reprehensible, financially costly, and illegal." While that belief is false, if we want to get this question "correct," we can bet on choice (B).

Agree with the above. Though modifiers don't HAVE to be included in parallel lists of non-modifiers, it is sometimes preferred.

Also, meaning is determined from the WHOLE QUESTION (not the sentence 'as written,' necessarily--sometimes that meaning is wrong! You use the entirety and your human understanding to 'get the point'), and it does seem the author wants the illegality to be 'obvious.'

Thank you!


Posted from my mobile device

Thanks a lot ExpertsGlobal5 & MartyTargetTestPrep

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.