Pack 21 Q2: The smallest of all rabbits, not only is the Netherland...

Question

Pack 21, Question 2 of 5:

The smallest of all rabbits,  not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger  rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

A) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger
B) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest 
C) the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest 
D) the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
E) the Netherland Dwarf is not only four times so tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger

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Prernapuri18 · Answer

Answer is D. It grammatically makes sense and includes correct parallelism.

prateekchugh · Answer

The smallest of all rabbits,  not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger rabbit , but also carries the dwarf gene.

Use the correct idiom: Not only X But also Y
Correct Parallelism: X and Y should be parallel

A)  not only is the Netherland Dwarf  four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger  The smallest of all rabbits, the netherland dwarf is the correct way; not only is the netherland dwarf Incorrect Meaning 
B)  not only is the Netherland Dwarf  four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest  The smallest of all rabbits, the netherland dwarf is the correct way; not only is the netherland dwarf Incorrect Meaning 
C) the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest  Not only... is not there Incorrect Idiom 
 D) the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest  Correct
E) the Netherland Dwarf is  not only four times   so tiny the Dwarf Hotot , the next larger  Incorrect Parallelism  ;  Incorrect Idiom use in "so tiny the Dwarf Hotot": So X should replace with ---> So X as

Sumi1010 · Answer

The smallest of all rabbits,   not only  is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

The smallest of all rabbits- is a noun modifier and should be followed by the noun it modifies.
This eliminates A and B.
The 2nd part of the sentence is "but also carries the dwarf gene." So the first part should be : X does  not only .... 
This eliminates C.
"n times SO tiny" is incorrect idiom. This eliminates E.

D is correct.

Sc44 · Answer

Finding D correct too. But because of correct not only is ...but also

Posted from my mobile device

jhavyom · Answer

The smallest of all rabbits,  not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger  rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

The modifier 'The smallest of all rabbits' should be followed by 'the Netherland Dwarf,' which is being modified.
In A and B, 'The smallest of all rabbits' is followed by 'is the Netherland Dwarf', which is incorrect.
Eliminate A and B

In D and E,
Correlative Conjunction 'Not only X, but also Y' is used.
X and Y should be parallel

A) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger
 Misplaced Modifier. Eliminate

B) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
 Misplaced Modifier. Eliminate

C) the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
 This sentence is a fragment as it lacks a main verb. Eliminate

D) the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
The smallest of all rabbits,  the Netherland Dwarf is four times as tiny the Dwarf Hotot , the next larger rabbit. 
The smallest of all rabbits,  the Netherland Dwarf carries the dwarf gene. 
Nice parallel structure
Correct

E) the Netherland Dwarf is not only four times so tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger
The smallest of all rabbits,  the Netherland Dwarf is four times so tiny the Dwarf Hotot , the next larger rabbit. 
The smallest of all rabbits,  the Netherland Dwarf   is carries   the dwarf gene. 
 The structure is not parallel.
Eliminate
 
Choice D is the answer.

Dvaishnav · Answer

I see a split of 'larger' and 'largest' in answer choices. Isn't 'larger' to correct comparison word here since we are comparing Netherland Dwarf' and 'Dwarf Hotot'?

I am leaning towards D but unable to understand why is the use of 'largest' acceptable. Can someone please explain? Thanks.

urshi · Answer

The smallest of all rabbits, not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

A) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger
The modifier  The smallest of all rabbits  should refer to Netherland Dwarf. Misplace modifier error. The idiom Not only.. But also is not parallel

B) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
The modifier  The smallest of all rabbits  should refer to Netherland Dwarf. Misplace modifier error. The idiom Not only.. But also is not parallel

C) the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest
Misplace modifier error is rectified. But also is not preceded by But also

(D)    the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest 
Misplace modifier error is rectified. The idiom not only is X but also carries Y is parallel.

E) the Netherland Dwarf is not only four times so tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger
Misplace modifier error is rectified. The idiom ' is not only X but also carries Y is not parallel.

IMO - D

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Great explanation, prateekchugh ! You did a great job of both explaining and showing the problems with each wrong option, and what option D did right! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Great job with the explanation, Sumi1010 ! We can't wait to see how you tackle the next one! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Great work, jhavyom ! We like that you both explained and SHOWED your work! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Great job urshi ! You cracked the code on this one! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation

The smallest of all rabbits,  not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger  rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

A)  not only is the Netherland Dwarf  four times  so  tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next  larger  
 B)  not only is the Netherland Dwarf  four times  as  tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next  largest  
 C)  the Netherland Dwarf  four times  as  tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next  largest   
 D)  the Netherland Dwarf not only is  four times  as  tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next  largest  
 E)  the Netherland Dwarf is not only  four times  so  tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next  larger

After a quick glance over the options, there are a few key differences we can focus on to narrow down our options:

1. “...not only is the Netherland Dwarf” / “...the Netherland Dwarf” / “...the Netherland Dwarf not only is” / “...the Netherland Dwarf is not only” (Idioms & Modifiers)
2. so tiny / as tiny (Comparisons & Idioms)
3. larger / largest (Comparative vs. Superlative Adjectives)

Let’s start with an easy “either/or” split: larger vs. largest.  When deciding whether to use the comparative (larger) or superlative (largest) form, we need to determine if we’re discussing 2 or more than 2 items. If we look at the original sentence, we can look for clues:

The smallest  of all rabbits ,  not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger  rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene.

Since we’re comparing these rabbits to ALL rabbits, it makes more sense to use the superlative “largest.”  We can eliminate options A & E because they both use the comparative “larger,” which doesn’t work here.

*Note: You would also eliminate options A & E if you tackled #2 on our list first. Saying “X is four times as tiny” is idiomatically correct - saying “X is four times so tiny” is incorrect.

Now that we have it narrowed down a bit, let’s tackle #1 on our list.  Whenever you see phrases “not only” or “but also,” that’s a hint that you’re dealing with the idiom “not only X, but also Y.” To make problems easier to spot, let’s add in the non-underlined portion at the end of each sentence:

B) not only  is the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot , the next largest  rabbit, but also  carries the dwarf gene .
This is  INCORRECT . This sentence is not parallel in structure. 
 
 C)  the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot , the next largest  rabbit, but also  carries the dwarf gene .
This is  INCORRECT . This sentence is not parallel in structure, and it doesn’t follow the “not only X, but also Y” idiom structure because it’s missing the “not only.”
 
 D) the Netherland Dwarf not only  is four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot , the next largest  rabbit, but also  carries the dwarf gene .
This is  CORRECT . This sentence uses the correct idiomatic phrase “four times as tiny.” It also is parallel in structure.

There you have it - option D is the correct choice!

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

SibyMatthew · Answer

Hello everyone! I understand that option D is correct and I chose the same. But I have a doubt in how this option is worded.

Option D reads "the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene."
Shouldn't the expression be "four times as tiny  as  the Dwarf Hotot"?
Isn't the original option missing the "as" following "tiny"?
So, shouldn't option D actually be "the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest rabbit, but also carries the dwarf gene."?

I hope you will enlighten me on the same. Thanks in advance!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Thanks for catching that  SibyMathew ! That was a typo on our part! We're going to award you some kudos for helping point that out!

We'll go back and change it in the original question so it doesn't cause any further confusion!

SibyMatthew · Answer

Thank you so much EMPOWERgmatVerbal !

ravigupta2912 · Answer

A) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times so tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger 
B) not only is the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest

A and B eliminated due to misplaced modifier issue. The opening modifier is modifying the "netherland dwarf" and as such "the netherland dwarf" should be followed after a comma and not a conjunction (not only).

C) the Netherland Dwarf four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest -- Eliminate. Here, the entity modified becomes a very small subset of "The Netherland Dwarf" i.e. "TND four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot", which creates multiple issues. It changes the meaning. Secondly, we have "but also" in the underlined portion and hence we need something that is parallel to "but also bla bla"

D) the Netherland Dwarf not only is four times as tiny as the Dwarf Hotot, the next largest -- Correct. No obvious errors.
 
E) the Netherland Dwarf is not only four times so tiny the Dwarf Hotot, the next larger -- "as X as". This idiom is violated in this choice.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Pack 21 Q2: The smallest of all rabbits, not only is the Netherland...

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