Hello Everyone!
This is a great example of a GMAT question that focuses on
parallelism! Let's start off by looking at the original sentence, and highlight any major differences between the options in
orange:
There are several ways to build solid walls using just mud or clay, but the most extensively used method has been
the forming of bricks out of mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying, they are laid in the wall in mud mortar.
A.
the forming of bricks out of mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
they are laidB.
forming the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
to lay themC.
having bricks formed from mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
they were laidD.
to form the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
to lay themE.
that bricks were formed from mud or clay, which, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
were laidSince we are dealing with parallelism, let's focus on that. To start, let's ask ourselves: what are the items being listed?
1. forming bricks from mud or clay
AND
2. laying them in the wall in mud mortar
Both items MUST be worded similarly, using parallel verb tenses, phrasing, or structure. Let's see which options use parallel structure, and rule out the ones that don't:
A.
the forming of bricks out of mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
they are laid -->
NOT PARALLELB.
forming the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
to lay them -->
NOT PARALLELC.
having bricks formed from mud or clay, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
they were laid -->
NOT PARALLELD.
to form the mud or clay into bricks, and, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
to lay them -->
PARALLELE.
that bricks were formed from mud or clay, which, after some preliminary air drying or sun drying,
were laid -->
NOT PARALLEL(*For option E to be parallel, it would have to say "the bricks were laid" to keep things even!)
Well, there you have it - option D is the only one that uses parallel structure for both listed items!Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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