1 - You are correct on both counts - punctuation is rarely a means of elimination on the GMAT and that main clause/subordinator construction does not use a comma. There is not a rule to explain why the GMAT included the comma on this question. You could easily argue that the sentence would be better without the comma. I'll point you back to your original point - don't look for punctuation as a major source of eliminations.
2 - Here the GMAT is posing a "fake split" between able to and capable of. The meaning is essentially the same, so you can't eliminate any choices on that basis. You could see an error here if you had "able to" vs. "capable to" because "capable to" is an incorrect idiom. That said, the GMAT is reducing it's reliance on idioms, so this error choice is becoming less likely.
3 - There is a very subtle difference between because and in-that - one that I wouldn't really use for eliminations. If you're stretching, "Because" indicates cause and effect; "in that" generally just indicates some kind of correlation. If it's a cause-effect scenario, go with because.

Bonus points here, notice the necessary parallelism addition of "on" to include a preposition before the first parallel item. Also, the word "being" in answer choice D is almost always incorrect on the GMAT.

KW
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The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree,
depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough
berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and
altitude, could produce --> "on both X and on Y" should just be "both on X and on Y"
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce --> modifier (noun + prepositional phrase) doesn't make sense modifying the noun, tree... tree is not dependent on its size.
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is
able to produce --> correct, "depending" used correctly; parallelism kept, "on X and on Y"; "is able to ..." is usually ok, but "can produce" is preferred.
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is
capable of producing --> "being dependent" is trying to say that the size DEPENDS on the tree. illogical
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate
and altitude, could produce --> both on X as well as on is an faulty idiom. should use both on X AND on Y

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.
A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

1. I know that punctuation is not an important issue evaluated by the GMAT, but I have a doubt with the comma after "because" in OA choice. I know that, when a main clause is followed by a subordinate clause, both clauses are not separated by a comma. In other words: Main clause + subordinator + (subordinate clause). Why in this case is there a comma?, or is "because " an exception?, in which cases?
2. Is there a difference between "capable of v-ing" and "able to"?
3. How could we know that we should use "because" instead of "in that"?
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In matters of speculation, ‘could produce’ is the preferred usage over the categorical ‘is able to, and ‘is capable of’ Hence B, C and D are out. Between A and E, in E, dependent on is inferior to depending on; Also both and as well as cannot go together. Both…. and is the correct usage.

Why there is a comma after tree? The phrase introduced by' depending on' is a modifier modifying the tree and hence is rather inessential to the main theme of the text tht the tree could produce widely ranging yields. That is perhaps the reason the authors chose to parenthesize the phrase between two commas.

2. Is there a difference between "capable of v-ing" and "able to"? Yes, some kind of technical differences. Capable of is preposition and hence the verb+ing will always be a gerund. Able to is an infinitive and hence the ‘to’ will always be followed by a verb.
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A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
In that a single tree is awkward and doesn't convey the same meaning as because.
on both x and y NOT on both x and on Y.

B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
In that a single tree is awkward and doesn't convey the same meaning as because.
on X and Y NOT on X and also Y.
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
correct.
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
Being is wordy.
Climate and altitude seems to be characteristics of tree which is wrong.
is capable of producing is wordy.
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce
The sentence seems to convey that tree itself is dependent on its size and ...
could produce changes the intended meaning.We are sure that tree is producing

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
could - The tree is able to produce in the past and not anymore. This sentence is talking about a general phenomenon

B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce

The tree is not dependent on anything. The production of Berries depends on the size of the tree and climate and altitude.
Verb-ed modifier can only modify the closest noun.
The sentence fragment "depending on both its size and on climate and altitude" can be put at the end of the sentence and that will answer the question - How?

C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce - Correct and perfect

D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing

being is not required -> remove the being and change dependent to depending -> the sentence is great.
Of producing -> this sentence requires an intent -> infinitive form needs to be used (to verb)

E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

Issues as option B and option A
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The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

Intended meaning:
1:The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously.
2:A single tree can produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year, depending on its size and on climate and altitude.

Analysis:
#1
Depending: (ing-modifier) Clause/verb modifier.Here it is answering, How tree can produce enough berries, and
dependent: (ed-modifier) Noun/NP modifier modifying tree.
ing-modifier is correct here as we need to answer "HOW" can a tree produces enough berries.

#2:
A vs C:
A has ||sm issue: both X and Y.

A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.
A. enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce
B. enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce
C. enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce
D. enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing
E. enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce

Note:
1:Dependent here changes here intended meaning.Sentence here means following:
Depending on blah blah, a single tree is able to ...

2:Here we need cause and effect to show the intended meaning so because is preffered.
[Effect]The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously. Why? Bec. a single tree could produce enough berries .... [Cause]

In that Vs Because:[By Ron]

X because Y means that there is an actual CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP, in which Y is/was the actual CAUSE of X.
X in that Y is a LIMITING STATEMENT. in these statements, x is usually something very general, but then the sentence LIMITS that statement to the scope of whatever Y is.

here are a couple of examples.

joe is a typical teenager in that he likes to watch a great deal of television.
--> MEANING: joe shares one thing with typical teenagers: namely, he likes to watch a lot of tv.

joe is a typical teenager because he likes to watch a great deal of television.
--> MEANING: joe's tv shows have actually CAUSED him to BECOME LIKE other teenagers.

Hi sairam595, as I mentioned, there are couple of officially correct questions that use in that. Reiterating, when there is a straight causal connection (as is the case in the sentence under consideration), because is the way to go.

In the example you've quoted (parachute like membranes), if you analyze, you would realize that it's not a true causal connection.

Normally this distinction is easy. A very similar incorrect example:

The African elephant differs from Asian elephant because African elephant has larger ears.
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Merged topics. Please, search before posting questions!
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During the last interglacial period, the climate on the Earth was warmer
than it is today, and the consequent melting of the polar ice caps caused the sea
level to raise about 60 feet over and above what its height presently is now.

A. sea level to raise about 60 feet over and above what its height presently is now
B. sea level to be raised over its height presently about 60 feet
C. sea level to rise about 60 feet above its present height
D. level of the seas to rise over and above its present height about 60 feet
E. level of the seas to be raised over their height, now about 60 feet.

Can someone tell me the source and the OA for this question?

Thanks!

Please post your queries on appropriate threads.

look at choice D
dong phrase, can work as an adverb of the main clause, showing an action simultaneous with that of the main clause . doing phrase, can show result, cause and and context of main clause.

I, being dependent on my parent financially, can not pay the tuition fee. a cause is shown by doing phrase ( do do not discuss the elimination of "being" inhere. "

in D, "being dependent on" means " relying on"

many forms of doing, "depending on", "including" works as a preposition and have different role to the main clause.
"depending on" means "according to"

so, the meaning in D is not logic. meaning in C is logic.

Hi,
I know testing punctuation on GMAT is not a good idea, but I have an issue with comma before because. Why do you need a comma before because.
Also, another doubt is that I normally heard that we use able to only with living organisms like humans, trees, animals, microorganisms etc but we dont use able to with non living things like machines. Again, we can use capable of with both living and non living things? Please show some light on this.

I am bumping this old thread because I have a query. I feel that in the choice C, "enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce]", the italicized' on' could be done away as there is an open parallelism marker.

Option c has a “comma+ verb ing” - how does it make sense to say yield per acre is the doer of depending?

Posted from my mobile device

So can I say that "because" is used when there is a causal relationship AND "in that" is used when you need to explain some sort of a correlation/situation?

The yield per acre of coffee berries varies enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce enough berries to make between one and twelve pounds of dried beans a year.

(A) enormously in that a single tree, depending on both its size and on climate and altitude, could produce Usage of "in that" is incorrect since we require a cause-effect marker such as "because". The items following "both" ie; "its size" and "on climate..." are not parallel. Eliminate.

(B) enormously in that a single tree, dependent on its size and also on climate and altitude, is able to produce Same error of using "in that" as in (A). Usage of "also" is redundant. Usage of "dependent" (which implies X depends on Y for support and not Y causes X) is incorrect. Eliminate.

(C) enormously, because a single tree, depending on its size and on climate and altitude, is able to produce Correct answer.

(D) enormously, because a single tree, being dependent on its size, climate, and altitude, is capable of producing Same error of using "dependent" as in (B). Eliminate.

(E) enormously, because a single tree, dependent both on its size as well as on climate and altitude, could produce Same error of using "dependent" as in (B) and (D). Eliminate.

Hope this helps.
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Hi!

Regarding the correct use of Able/Capable
I read here that we shouldn't "Able-Ability/Capable" for things

https://gmatclub.com/forum/artificial-i ... 91193.html

Is it a 100% true rule? since here the tree is able to produce .....

Thanks in advance