The key to control over the Eurasian steppes lay in the nomad’s abilit

Question

The key to control over the Eurasian steppes lay in the nomad’s ability to use the horse both as a means of transport  but also as  an effective military tool.

(A) but also as
(B) or as
(C) and as
(D) or
(E) and also

DinoPen · Answer

I chose C.
The pair both/and is needed. In addition, to follow parallelism, the use of "both as" and "and as" is needed.

rajatchopra1994 · Answer

Explanation:
Concept: Idioms
In C, “both as X and as Y” is used. C is idiomatic and hence, the best choice.
Rest all four choices are unidiomatic and hence are incorrect.

coreyander · Answer

Hi Experts,
The subject of the sentence is "The Key".. Verb is "Lay"

Isnt this a singular subject and plural verb? Shudnt this be "The Key.... lays".....  (Though this is in the non-underlined part...)

ChiranjeevSingh · Answer

Here's the   official explanation   provided by the GMAC for this question:
 
In this sentence the word  both  introduces the first of two conjoined phrases describing ways that nomads were able to use horses. These phrases must be presented in parallel form, in this case starting with the preposition  as   .  Idiomatically, when  both  introduces the first of two conjoined phrases,  and  must introduce the second. 
 
 Option A:  Since  both  introduces the first of two conjoined phrases, it is unidiomatic for  but also  to introduce the second.

Option B:  Since  both  introduces the first of two conjoined phrases, it is unidiomatic for  or  to introduce the second.

Option C:  Correct.  B   oth  introduces  as a means of transport , the first of two conjoined phrases.  And  introduces the second of these phrases,  as an effective military tool . The two phrases are presented in parallel form, both starting with  as .

Option D:  When  both  introduces the first of two conjoined phrases, it is unidiomatic for  or  to introduce the second. Furthermore,  as a means of transport  is not parallel with  an effective military tool ; the former phrase starts with the preposition  as , while the latter starts with the article  an  and completes the conjunction illogically with a noun phrase rather than an adverbial phrase.

Option E:   As a means of transport  is not parallel with  also an effective military tool ; the former phrase starts with the preposition  as , while the latter starts with the adverb  also . 
 
The correct answer is C.

Please note that I'm not the author of this explanation. I'm just posting it here since I believe it can help the community.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The key to control over the Eurasian steppes lay in the nomad’s abilit

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The key to control over the Eurasian steppes lay in the nomad’s abilit

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