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Sub 505 Level|   Idioms/Diction/Redundancy|   Modifiers|   Pronouns|                        
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Hi experts, AjiteshArun GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep AndrewN

I have the problem to get the meaning sense that (I) Turtles can endure long fasts "BECAUSE" (II) Turtles are able to survive on weekly or monthly feedings.

For me, it seems to be (II) because (I). Does it make sense? If not, how I could improve my meaning analysis?
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Hi experts, AjiteshArun GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep AndrewN

I have the problem to get the meaning sense that (I) Turtles can endure long fasts "BECAUSE" (II) Turtles are able to survive on weekly or monthly feedings.

For me, it seems to be (II) because (I). Does it make sense? If not, how I could improve my meaning analysis?
Hello, Foi2Evei2. In all honesty, I think this is a type of sentence that could operate in either direction: I/II or II/I. Could a sentence aim to convey why turtles can endure long fasts? Sure. That would be a I/II structure. Could it be that a sentence would aim to explain why turtles can survive on sparse feedings, a II/I structure? That could work as well. But notice that the decision is made for us, vis-à-vis the answer choices. The latter three options adopt a I/II structure—the lack of a comma after "fasts" in (D) and (E) cues us that the because clause is commenting on or explaining the main clause. (The first two options are a garbled mess.)

Quote:
Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

(A) fasts, in their ability to survive
(B) fasts, having their ability to survive
(C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
(D) fasts because they are able to survive
(E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving
With this in mind, our task is merely to select the safest, most concise, and idiomatic way of expressing that turtles can endure long fasts for some reason. Only answer choice (D) holds up on all fronts, as many have commented above. In short, you may not have to delve into meaning too much if the key decision point has already been made for you.

I hope that helps resolve your doubts. Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew
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B) fasts, due to having the ability to survive

Since many experts have cited on the nonidiomatic ability of, will changing the option B as above correct the meaning?

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Varane
B) fasts, due to having the ability to survive

Since many experts have cited on the nonidiomatic ability of, will changing the option B as above correct the meaning?

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Hello Varane,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, this version of Option B would still not be correct because "due to" is only used to refer to nouns; to refer to the action of "having the ability to survive", the phrase "because of" is needed.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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Varane
B) fasts, due to having the ability to survive

Since many experts have cited on the nonidiomatic ability of, will changing the option B as above correct the meaning?
No, Varane, that still would not work, since due to is used to comment on a noun, while because or because of explains an action. (For further reference, you might find this e-GMAT article helpful.) The sentence aims to convey why turtles can endure, an action, so due to is inappropriate. It is not turtles or fasts that seeks an explanation. Notice that if we replace due to with because and shift from the noun form having to an active verb form in have, we pretty much end up with answer choice (D).

Perhaps (D) makes more sense now. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew
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Ability of is incorrect, C&E out. In choice A &B are incorrect as there is lack of a reasoning word (due to or because of) which can tell how turtles can endure long fast, use of because is needed. D is the correct choice.
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Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

(A) fasts, in their ability to survive
Fasts, In their ability - easy to ignore
(B) fasts, having their ability to survive
Their ability - we need to check whether their is required here.
(C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
Long and confusing . So, ignore C
(D) fasts because they are able to survive
Turtles can endure long fasts because they are Able to ……..;they (turtles) may eat frequently …. This comparison is clear and meaningful.
(E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving
Having the ability - long and unnecessary .
So,i go with D

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