The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because the

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2) 
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The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil  is because their roots house bacteria that can turn  atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn

generis · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)

Quote:

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn

• ~~the reason is because~~
• ~~the reason why~~

Both expressions are redundant.

Correct: The reason is that

See Notes, below.

• Split #1: the winged bean, singular v. their, plural

The winged bean is singular, but options A and C incorrectly refer to "their" roots.
We have noun-pronoun disagreement.
ELIMINATE A and C

• Split #2: that and which are not interchangeable

In SWE, which cannot be without a preceding comma unless the word is the object of a preposition.

In other words, if you see which in a sentence and no commas flank the word, then which is impermissibly trying to be that.
In British English—including British journalism—which and that are interchangeable.
Not so on the GMAT.

Option B uses which can turn without commas to set off non-essential information.
ELIMINATE B

• Split #3: All sentences need verbs, not verbals

Option E does not contain a verb for the word reason.
The other options use is.
Option E uses an __ING word, a verbal, that is not a working verb.
ELIMINATE E

• Split #4: The reason is because is redundant (see Notes)

In options A and B, the reason is because is redundant.
Horribly, ear-splittingly redundant.
I know. Both options are already eliminated.

I just wanted to stress this point.
Oh, and to say that the reason why is also wrong and also redundant.

The answer is D

NOTES

• redundancy - on the GMAT and in good writing generally, "the reason is" and "because" are redundant.
GMAC prefers concision. "The reason is" and because repeat the same idea.

The reason tells us why something happened.
Because also tells us why something happened.
-- The reason already announces that we are about to hear a causal explanation. Because indicates the same idea.
-- This site, here discusses the construction at issue. Essentially we are saying that "the reason is the reason.”
-- In speech, native speakers frequently use "the reason . . is because." They also use "the reason why." Both usages are redundant.
-- GMAC follows the typical rule for formal writing: because and the reason is are redundant, and concision is important.

Redundancy is not necessarily fatal. Make sure that a correct answer without redundancy exists.
When redundancy arises, see whether you can find a better answer—one that does not repeat ideas.

-- Takeaway: Compare options. Which is better? Which is worse? Pick the better one.
The reason that he arrived early to lecture is because he wanted to get a seat near the front. [WORSE]
He arrived early to lecture because he wanted to get a seat near the front. [BETTER]

COMMENTS

budhni , welcome to SC Butler.

It's very late, so I'll keep my remarks short. Ready?
Kudos to all.

Ranasaymon · Answer

1. The reason...is because  
=> The reason and because convey the same meaning! Using them at the same time is redundant. 
Eliminate options A and B.

2. its vs they 
=> The winged bean is singular. The pronoun of the winged bean should be singular
Eliminate options A and C

3. The reason...being that ( No verb in this case) 
Eliminate option E

Option D is the answer

aviddd · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn
 "their" is wrong since we are dealing with singular winged bean

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn
 which needs to follow a comma. and even if added a comma, it is still wrong as it will convert vital modifier to nonvital one, leaving us with a sentence fragment.

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning
 "their" is wrong since we are dealing with singular winged bean
 
D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn
 Correct

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn
 Convoluted sentence

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (D) . It took me 29 seconds.

This is  correct : The reason that ... is that ... 
This is  wrong : The reason that ... is because .... (Why is it wrong? For one, we can argue because is redundant. For another, "because ..." introduces an adverb clause, which cannot be used as complement)

(A) This is wrong: The reason that ... is because ....
(B) See above
(C) "their" does not agree with "the winged bean" (singular)
(E) Fragment

Soumya200011 · Answer

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn- using "the reason" and "because" is redundant.(wrong idiom)

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn-again "because" (wrong idiom)

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning-"the winged bean" is singular. Usage of "their" is incorrect.

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn- Correct. "its" (singular) correctly modifies "the winged bean" (singular)

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn- Wrong.1-Being. 2-"and can turn" modifies "the winged bean" whereas the original sentence means the  roots  of the winged bean turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

IMO D.

tyildirim92 · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil  is because their roots house bacteria that can turn  atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn // "their" does not have a logical antecedent. "because" is redundant.

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn // "because" is redundant. "which" initiates a nonessential modifier, yet the info after "which" seems essential.

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning // "their" doesn't have a logical antecedent.

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn // correct

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn // "being" is unnecessary. bacteria can turn nitrogen into fertilizer, not its roots.

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ketanbhardwaj131 · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is  because   their  roots house bacteria that can turn (Redundancy Error) (Pronoun-antecedent number agreement error)

B) is  because  its roots house bacteria  which  can turn (Redundancy Error) (Which should be preceded by a comma)

C) is  that  their  roots house bacteria  turning (Pronoun-antecedent number agreement error) (SV must exist error)

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn (Correct in all aspects)

E)  being  that  its roots house bacteria  and can turn (SV must exist error)

VERBAL1 · Answer

15 secs to solve! 
Firstly, the reason ...because makes the sentence construction redundant. so we can eliminate all the options that carry that construction quickly.

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning (flawed construction , grammatically incorrect. 'bacteria that turn' would be correct.)

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn (sorts all errors. So let's keep this)

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn 
( There's a cause and effect relationship. The use of 'and' changes meaning suggesting that the winged bean can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer. That's not the intended meaning) Out.

OA: D

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budhni · Answer

the reason and because create redundancy. The winged bean is singular, therefore Its roots is correct. all these lead to correct answer D.
 
Being and 'and ' are not required in E.

Anki2609 · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil  is because their roots house bacteria that can turn  atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

Meaning:   The statement is stating a reason why winged bean can survive in poor soil. This is due the bacteria in roots taht can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

Issue:   1. The reason and is because is redundant.
2. Pronoun 'their' has no plural noun antecedent as per meaning it should refer to winged bean but winged bean is singular

A) is  because   their  roots house bacteria that can turn

B) is  because  its roots house bacteria  which  can turn -- Issue 1 and use of non-essential modifier which.

C) is that  their  roots house bacteria  turning  -- Issue 2 in statement 1

D)  is that its  roots house bacteria that can turn

E) being that its roots house  bacteria and can  turn --change in meaning. Not the roots but the bacteria turn the nitrogen

sood1596 · Answer

Split 1 - because vs That 
The reason that .... is because....
Reason and because are redundant. 
Eliminate A and B

Split 2- its vs their
Winged bean is singular so “it’s” will be used.
Eliminate C

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn 
Intended meaning is not correct

Answer -D

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winterschool · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is  because  their roots house bacteria that can turn

B) is  because  its roots house bacteria which can turn

C) is that  their  roots house bacteria  turning

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn

E)  being  that its roots house bacteria  and  can turn

POE-

A & B - The reason .....because is wrong, 'because' not required

E - 'being' wrongly used, ' changes meaning

C - pronoun error, 'the winged bean' singular whereas 'their' plural and infinitive form is better than present continuous form

D - best choice

dharam9610 · Answer

My thought process on this:

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

Redundancy pops up so - we need to reject A & look for other options

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn

Wrong usage: 'The reason... because'

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn

Same as A

C) is that their roots house bacteria turning

Not very elegant - 'turning' is a participle modifying bacteria

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn

Seems fine - lets keep it

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn

Seems as if the roots do 2 things house bacteria & turn - reject it

D is the winner

agar123 · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

A) is   because   their roots house bacteria that can turn -----> The reason that ....is because creates redundency

B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn-----> same issue as in A, The use of the reason...is because creates redundancy

C) is that   their   roots house bacteria turning -----> pronoun antecedent disagreement error. their(plural) is referring to the winged bean(singular)

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn ---> Correct

E)   being   that its roots house bacteria and can turn ---> use of being is incorrect. "The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil being that its roots house bacteria and can turn " doesn't make any sense.

Sushil117 · Answer

A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn
 because is redundant .SVA error "their" is wrong as subject is singular
 
B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn
 because is redundant 
 
C) is that their roots house bacteria turning
 SVA same as A
 
D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn
 correct

E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn
 use of "being" makes it wrong

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

monk123 · Answer

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because their roots house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.
 
POE:
Stop sign- 'reason....is because'; redundancy. Eliminate (A) & (B).
Eliminate (C) - singular subject reason requires singular pronoun.
Eliminate (E) - being is redundant on GMAT

A)  is because their  roots house bacteria that can turn

B)  is because  its roots house bacteria which can turn

C) is that  their  roots house bacteria turning

D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn -   correct

E)  being  that its roots house bacteria and can turn

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because the

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The reason that the winged bean can thrive on poor soil is because the

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My Rewards