Although it is a common pastime, backpacking alone nevertheless

Question

Although it is a common pastime, backpacking alone nevertheless involves certain inconveniences, ranging from the frequency of harsh storms along some trails  to the absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others.

A. to the absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others
B. to the absence of facilities for medical care and along others the scarcity of drinkable water
C. and the absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others
D. and the absence of facilities for medical care to the scarcity of drinkable water along others
E. to the absence of facilities for medical care along others and the scarcity of drinkable water

Caught in between A & B

What is the meaning of sentence or is it that the sentence has been made complex ?

adkikani · Answer

Siddhuftr

Meaning: the sentence presents a contrast. It says although backpacking is a common pastime, 
it presents a few inconveniences. The sentences then goes on to present inconveniences in form of
parallelism (nouns):
  frequency of harsh storms along some trails 
 absence of facilities for medical care 
 scarcity of drinkable water along others.

Idiom tested: from X to Y and Z (X, Y and Z must be parallel i.e. here: noun forms)

Hope this helps. Happy study prep.

Please include the source of questions in near future for fruitful discussions.

pankajpaliitkgp · Answer

Take example:  Mountain ranging from north to south .
 of  X ranging from Y to Z .

X, Y and Z are nouns.

A.  inconveniences, ranging from the frequency of harsh storms along some trails to the absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others. 
x=inconveniences
Y=frequency of harsh storms along some trails
Z=absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others

Z might be confusing: here, (absence) noun (of facilities for medical care) modifier and (the scarcity) noun (of drinkable water) modifier (along others).
=absence and scarcity along others. 
This option seems right.

B.  to the absence of facilities for medical care and along others the scarcity of drinkable water 
Z= absence and along others scarcity (along others is used to extend list further using it before scarcity seems awkward and change meaning), wrong

C.  and the absence of facilities for medical care and the scarcity of drinkable water along others 
there is no "To". incomplete sentence. Wrong.

D.   and the absence of facilities for medical care to the scarcity of drinkable water along others 
read it like "ranging from frequency and absence to scarcity along others"
We are talking about inconviences and counting them and ending with entending list by saying along others. While counting inconviences, and should be used at the end. Wrong.

E.  to the absence of facilities for medical care along others and the scarcity of drinkable water. 
Z= absence along others and scarcity. 
"Along others" extending medical care suggesting more lacking facilities, chaging the meaing. Not right place to use along other. Wrong.

I've tried to expalain as per my understanding. All are most welcome to correct me or put your point of veiw on my reasoning.

adityac · Answer

This one can look tough at first glance but can easily be gamed. No need for intuition.

Right off the bat, you can eliminate choices C and D. The idiom is  range from....to

You're left with choices A, B, and E.

You can eliminate E because it just sounds weird. The meaning I interpreted is that there is absence for medical care as well as other things...doesn't quite flow with the rest of the sentence since the portion.

Between A and B, I went with A for the following reason.
For the meaning of the sentence to work, "along others" is referring to other trails. The sentence is trying to tell you that there are dangers to backpacking because some trails have harsh storms while other trails lack medical care and water. Choice B changes the meaning of the sentence that there are other dangers.

Although it is a common pastime, backpacking alone nevertheless

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although it is a common pastime, backpacking alone nevertheless

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