Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world

Question

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Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are they hot.

A) Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are they hot.

B) Forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot.

C) Although the Gobi dunes form the fifth largest desert of the world, they are neither sandy nor are they hot.

D) Despite forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are hot.

E) Although they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot.

generis · Answer

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zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (E) . It took me 01:36.

For "Neither X Nor Y", it is critical to ensure that X and Y are parallel.

(A) "sandy" and "are they hot" are not parallel.

(B) No obvious error. Keep for now.

(C) See (A)

(D) "sandy" and "are hot" are not parallel.

(E) No obvious error.

We have to choose between (B) and (E). 
It  seems  that there should be a contrast between "forming the desert" and being "neither sandy nor hot". For professionals working with Gobi dunes, though, the facts should come as no surprise at all. We do not know for whom this question is written.

I ultimately choose (E) and reject (B) because other choices (with "despite" and "although") strongly indicate that the question writer is indeed surprised.

Boho · Answer

Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are they hot.

A) Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are they hot. Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are they hot - parallelism problem

B) Forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot. Incorrect

there is no comparison or contrast in this choice

C) Although the Gobi dunes form the fifth largest desert of the world, they are neither sandy nor are they hot. Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are they hot - parallelism problem

D) Despite forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are hot. Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are hot - parallelism problem

E) Although they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot. Correct

Sumi1010 · Answer

In  Neither X Nor Y  - X and Y need to be parallel. 
Choices  A, C and D  violate this parallelism and hence they can be eliminated. 
 
Choice  B  :  Forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot.
 
 Is the fact  that the Gobi dunes are neither sandy not hot   related to the fact  that they form the largest desert of the world ?

No, the two facts are independent and can't be connected with participle modifier phrase (neither in the beginning nor at the end of the sentence).

The choice E brings a contrast. The author expects that if the dunes are not sandy and hot, they are not supposed to form the fifth largest desert. However, they do.

E

100mitra · Answer

Correct option : E

Eliminate A, C, and D  - for wrong usage of Neither X nor Y idiom for comparasion, which demean the parallelism structure.
A) Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor are they  hot.
C) Although the Gobi dunes form the fifth largest desert of the world, they are  neither sandy nor are they hot .
D) Despite forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor are hot

Elimiate B:  
usage of word "forming" is present particple, indicates as if it is currently making 5th largest desert, demean the intended meaning of the sentece, sentence before comma and after comma, structure has to be contrast, which is missing with option B.
B)  Forming  the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor hot .

Correct option E 
E)  Although  they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor hot .

sivatx2 · Answer

A) Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor  are they  hot. 
 "are they" usage is unnecessary and breaks the parallel rule with "neither...nor". Eliminate
 
 B)  Forming  the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot. 
 Grammatically correct, but missing the contrast presented in original sentence. Eliminate.

C) Although the Gobi dunes form the fifth largest desert of the world, they are neither sandy nor  are they  hot. 
 "are they" usage is unnecessary and breaks the parallel rule with "neither...nor". Eliminate

D) Despite forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor  are  hot. 
 "are" usage is unnecessary and breaks the parallel rule with "neither...nor". Eliminate

E)  Although  they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither  sandy nor hot . 
 Contrast is correct, parallel rule is correct & pronoun usage is also correct. So, E is the answer choice.

aarkay87 · Answer

POE:

A: Parallelism lost in the structure “Neither X nor Y”: Adjective (=sandy) AND clause (=are they hot)

B: Contender:
1) There is no issue with parallelism, but CONTRAST from original choice is lost
2) Present participle (=forming…) will indicate CONTINUOUS action in time frame of main clause, rendering illogical meaning

C: same as A

D: Parallelism lost in the structure “Neither X nor Y”: Adjective (=sandy) AND verb (=are hot)

E: Correct

winterschool · Answer

Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor are they hot.

A) Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor are they hot .  Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are they hot - parallelism problem

B)  Forming the fifth largest desert of the world,  the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot.  Incorrect

there is no comparison or contrast in this choice

C) Although the Gobi dunes form the fifth largest desert of the world, they are  neither sandy nor are they hot .  Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are they hot - parallelism problem

D) Despite forming the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are  neither sandy nor are hot.   Incorrect

............. neither sandy nor are hot - parallelism problem

E)  Although they form the fifth largest desert of the world, the Gobi dunes are neither sandy nor hot.   Correct

VerbalBot · Answer

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Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Despite the fact that they form the fifth largest desert of the world

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