The ecosystems of barrier islands are extremely vulnerable - whether

I would go for 'E', idiomatic and parellel.


b. three errors - whether...or is unidomatic, vulnerable to should be used instead of vulnerable from, like should not be used
c. Such as should be used instead of Like.
d. same as in 'C'
e. Best Answer, correct use of 'vulnerable to',
such as is used correctly
parrellelism is followed.

The ecosystems of barrier islands are extremely vulnerable-whether from natural processes like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or the ever-increasing pressures of development.

This question tests two things:

1. Usage of Such as V/s Like:
Such as is used to give examples. In this sentence, we are giving examples hence such as should be used
Like is used to state similarity.
2. Parallelism:
In the construction "whether ... or ..." always make sure that the same form is used after "whether" and "or"
Eg: Whether from the rising level or from the ever increasing.

A. whether from natural processes like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or
Since we are giving examples, like should be replaced by Such as
B. whether from natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or also
The construction should be Whether from ... or from ..
C.to processes that are natural like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, and also
Since we are giving examples, like should be replaced by Such as
D. to processes that are natural ones like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to
Since we are giving examples, like should be replaced by Such as
E. to natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to
Correct

I want to Know Is - part is also underlined, which looks like not , if not can any one explain Vulnerable - to is correct ?

I think after - there should be some additional information not that it continue the same sentence before hyphen, can anybody show me the rule of this hyphen

Hello ukunal,

You ask a very good question here. I will be glad to help you with this one.

What follows the hyphen is the entity that the ecosystems of barrier islands are vulnerable to - natural processes.

Please note that natural processes is a noun entity that is preceded by the preposition to. This prepositional phrase modifies the action are vulnerable.

So the modifier is just precede d by this hyphen to show that what follows is a description.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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Hi Experts GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo sayantanc2k

Can any one please help between B/ E?
Remaining choices are eliminated since such as is used for showing examples.

WR,Arpit
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Hello Arpit, adkikani,

I will be glad to help you with this one.

B. whether from natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or also

Choice B is incorrect for a couple of reasons.

1. Use of whether is incorrect in the context of this sentence because whether is used to present choices or alternatives. But there is no question of any alternative in this sentence as the sentence intends to say that the ecosystems of barrier islands are extremely vulnerable to either natural processes or the ever-increasing pressures of development - one of the two reasons.

Also, the expression whether from is idiomatic. The correct expression is vulnerable or vulnerable to.

2. Use of also with or is incorrect. There is no question of also in the statement either this or that because in any given situation, only one factor will be applicable.

E. to natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes,
as well as to

Choice E is the correct answer because it uses the correct expression vulnerable to and maintains perfect parallelism. Pay attention to the specific use of to at the end of the choice. Present of this preposition leaves no ambiguity that what entities are meant to be parallel.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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A Quick Fix
Remove A, C, and D for using 'like' to denote examples. Between B and E, one is always vulnerable to and not vulnerable from. E is correct
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Hi, as well as is a preposition. So, how can we have 2 prepositions together at a time. as well as to the ever-increasing pressures of development.
normally,As well as is followed by a noun. Example- I like food as well as tea. Please help me to understand that just to maintain parallelism, how can we have 2 prepositions together at a time.

"As well as" is a conjunction as well. So option E is alright.

Main Issue:

Like vs Such as

We use "such as" and not "like" to give examples.

A. whether from natural processes like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or - Wrong: 1) Like

B. whether from natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or also - Wrong: 1) Parallelism

C. to processes that are natural like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, and also - Wrong: 1) Like 2) Redundant 3) Wordy

D. to processes that are natural ones like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to - Wrong: 1) Like 2) Wordy

E. to natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to - Correct

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