The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier tha

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack

E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)

Quote:

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack

E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack

• SPLIT #1 - EASIER v. MORE EASILY

The word easier is an adjective that describes a noun.
→ The first verbal section of the GRE was easier than the second.
The phrase more easily is an adverb that usually describes a verb or an adjective, but never a noun.
→ He learned French more easily than he learned Mandarin.

Easier and more easily are intended to modify can be hacked.

Can be hacked is a verb. We need the adverb more easily.
Eliminate options A and B.

Option A also employs the wordy phrase have a tendency to lack.
Option B also uses the awkward and problematic phrase tending to lack.

• Split #2 - Parallelism

More easily is a comparison phrase.
The things under comparison should be similar kinds of things.

Look at the words just to the right of than.

In options C and E, those words are large ones.
Large ones refers to large companies; small companies are described by size, whereas security systems are not.
Options C and E incorrectly compare security systems and large companies.
Eliminate option E. (Option A also contains this error.)

Option E also switches unnecessarily from present to present perfect (have tended).

The best answer is D.

→ those of correctly replaces the plural noun security systems.
Now security systems [in small companies] are being compared to security systems [in large companies].

→ more easily correctly modifies can be hacked

→ tend is followed by the infinitive to lack. The construction tend to lack is idiomatic.
By contrast, in option C, tendency of lacking is not idiomatic.
Finally, in option B, because of small companies tending to lack is not correct for a few reasons.
The most important reason for you to remember is that a dedicated noun such as tendency is almost always preferred to a gerund (a verbING).

COMMENTS

vishwajeetarora , sood1596 , and Merc welcome to SC Butler.

Merc , if I've welcomed you before—well, you get two welcomes.

TheNightKing , I am always glad to see people return whenever they can.

sambitspm , I am bumping you to Best Community Reply.
These answers range from very good to stellar. Well done, everyone.

Merc , if I've welcomed you before—well, you get two welcomes. TheNightKing , I am always glad to see people return whenever they can. sambitspm , I am bumping you to Best Community Reply. These answers range from very good to stellar. Well done, everyone.

sambitspm · Answer

Concept 1: Security systems can often be hacked....... here we will need an adverb that can modify verb hacked.Easily is adverb, easier is and adjective (modifies noun).
Concept 2: Comparison here is between smaller and larger firms.
Concept 3:  tendency to lack / tend to lack . Both are okay for the statement.  tendency of lacking  involves an unnecessary gerund.  have  will involve use of present perfect tense, which is not required in the statement.
Concept 4: verb-ing without a comma modifies the subject just prior to comma, while verb-ing with comma modifies the clause prior to comma

A)  easier  than large ones because small companies  have  a tendency to lack 
 Adverb is required not adjective

B)  easier  than those of large ones because of small companies  tending  to lack 
 Adverb is required not adjective

C) more  easily  than large ones because small companies  have  a tendency of lacking 
 Unnecessary addition of  have

D) more  easily  than those of large ones because small companies  tend to lack 
 
 E) more  easily  than large ones because small companies  have  tended to lack 
 Unnecessary addition of  have  
 
Answer is D

Varunsawhney8 · Answer

Incorrect Comparison

tyildirim92 · Answer

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack // easy is an adjective and can modify a noun or a noun entity. easily is an adverb and can modify a verb. "those" is necessary to compare security systems.

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack // easy is an adjective and can modify a noun or a noun entity. easily is an adverb and can modify a verb. Gmat does not like the usage of "because of"+"noun"+"participle"

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking // "those" is necessary to compare security systems. "tendency of verbing is not idiomatic.

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack // true

E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack // "those" is necessary to compare security systems.

Posted from my mobile device

Ranasaymon · Answer

1.  The comparison is between the security systems of small companies and the security systems of large companies 
 
=> Eliminate options A,C and E (( Incorrect comparison: The security systems of small companies vs large ones)

2.  tend to lack vs tendency to lack vs tending to lack

=> GMAT prefers verb to noun. Eliminate option A and B and C

3.  Option D is the answer.

=>   the security systems  of small companies vs  those of large companies
=> Because+clause
=>Tend to lack

AyushGogia21 · Answer

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack
 The compared entities are incorrect. Security systems are being compared with large organisation. Choice A is out

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack
 Same as choice A. Additional error is companies tending to. Choice B is out out.

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking
 Incorrect comparison. Choice C is out too.

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack
 Entities compared here are correct and no new error is introduced. Choice D is our answer.
 
E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack
 Incorrect entities being compared. Choice E is out too.

sood1596 · Answer

We have to compare the security cameras of small companies with the security cameras of large companies.

Eliminate A,C,E because in these answer choices the comparison is incorrect.
Here, the security cameras are being compared with large companies. Irrelevant comparison.

B - companies tending to is wrong here.

Answer - D

Merc · Answer

A good straight forward comparison question..
We are comparing the systems of small companies and large companies 
NOTE : So in the non underlined portion we have security systems of small companies , hence we can only compare it with the security systems 
OPTIONS-
A: easier than  large ones 
We have systems compared to large companies themselves , which does not make sense 
OUT

B:easier than  those of large ones 
Comparison on point with usage of those referring to plural noun systems. 
HOLD

C: more easily than  large ones 
Same as A , wrong comparison
OUT

D: more easily than  those of large ones 
Same comparison as B , lets hold to this one as well

E:more easily than  large ones 
Same as A ..
OUT

We are left we B and D with correct comparison usage , 
In B we have Tending , which is incorrect as we are stating an opinion / fact , and we need base form of verb tend here as used in D. 
So B is out

ANSWER : D

THANKYOU 
MERC

Sushil117 · Answer

security system of small companies should be compared with security system of large companies.A,C and and E are out security system is compared with large companies
Between B and D, "tending" is incorrect in B as it should be a in simple form.
hence D is the answer

kush09 · Answer

A)  easier  than  large ones  because small companies have a tendency to lack
-- Adverb is required, security systems are compared with companies.

B)  easier  than those of large ones because of small companies  tending to lack 
-- Adverb is required, tending to lack conveys incorrect meaning.

C) more easily than  large ones  because small companies have a tendency of lacking
-- security systems are compared with companies.

D)  more easily  than  those  of large ones because small companies tend to lack
-- correct.

E) more easily than  large ones  because small companies  have tended  to lack
-- security systems are compared with companies.

TheNightKing · Answer

I know I have been MIA but I am trying to make a come back

The thing to look out for is what is being compared? It is the security systems of small companies being compared to Security systems of large companies. Hence we need "those" in the correct answer choice. We cannot compare security systems to companies. That leaves us with B and D. I wouldn't waste my brain on easier vs more easily. Between tending vs tend I would pick tend because gerund form of tend is not needed here. It is a simple sentence which is trying to say that small companies tend to spend less.

vishwajeetarora · Answer

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack

In option A the entities compared are - The security systems of small companies and the large companies. Comparing apples to oranges. This comparison is not correct.

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack

The meaning of the sentence according to this choice is - The security system of the small companies are easier to hack because of small companies. Tending here is a modifier which tells more about small companies. So the meaning of the sentence is illogical!
C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking

The compared entities in this choice are - The security systems and the large companies. As with A, the comparison is incorrect.

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack. 
The comparison is clear, and this choice is correct.

E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack

As with A and C, Comparison in this choice is incorrect, and the verb tense has been changed to present perfect and is incorrect.
Simple Present tense should be used to convey a fact!

Posted from my mobile device

agar123 · Answer

Hi,

Here are my two cents on this question:

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack the financial resources to upgrade their software and set up protective barriers.

A)   easier than large ones   because small companies have a tendency to lack -----> security systems of small companies compared with large companies.

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack -----> I think there is no problem with because of but "missing verb" it should have been tend to lack. as the sentence is presenting a fact, so simple present tense should have been used.

C)   more easily than large ones   because small companies have a tendency of lacking Same issue as choice a

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack -----> Correct Choice(Fixed comparison as well as verb tense issue)

E) more easily   than large ones   because small companies have tended to lack------> Same comparison issue as choice A , Simple present tense should have been used.

Regards,
agar123

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

HowdyPartner · Answer

During our first glance, we can see "than" in the underline. This signals a comparison -- remember that comparisons must be logical and parallel.

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack  easier should be easily.  Eliminate.

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack  easier should be easily.  Eliminate.

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking  Illogical comparison. Comparing small company computer systems and large companies.  Eliminate.

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack  Logical comparison -- small companys systems and large company systems.   Our Answer .

E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack  Illogical comparison. Comparing small company computer systems and large companies.  Eliminate.

Pankaj0901 · Answer

I think in Option C, "those of" can be ellipsis? Request to please help me understand in case I am missing something.
(tendency to, or, have a tendency- idiomatic usage is separate).

C) more easily than (those of) large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

A) easier than large ones because small companies have a tendency to lack.   ]

B) easier than those of large ones because of small companies tending to lack.   ]

C) more easily than large ones because small companies have a tendency of lacking.   ]

D) more easily than those of large ones because small companies tend to lack.    ] 
 
E) more easily than large ones because small companies have tended to lack.   ]

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier tha

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The security systems of small companies can often be hacked easier tha

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards