To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water

Question

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water tables, a Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps, perhaps solar powered,   to lower the underground water level and dig trenches   around the bases of the stone walls.

(A) to lower the underground water level and dig trenches
(B) to lower the underground water level and to dig trenches
(C) to lower the underground water level and digging trenches
(D) that lower the underground water level and that trenches be dug
(E) that lower the underground water level and trench digging

Source : 1000 SC Series

egmat · Accepted Answer

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Meaning-Analysis-2.png 
 
  Sentence Structure

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/egyptian-monuments-sentence-structure-1.png

Meaning  
The sentence discusses the problem of rising water levels threatening ancient Egyptian monuments. The way the sentence is structured, the meaning is not clear. The original sentence indicates that a firm has proposed installing pumps, and the intent is for the pumps to lower water and dig trenches. However, we know it is illogical to state that a pump intends to dig a trench. Thus, we must infer the logical meaning that a Swedish engineering firm has suggested two things: installing pumps that possibly will be solar powered to lower the level of underground water. The second idea is digging trenches around the bottom of the stone walls.

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Error-Analysis-2.png

1. Parallelism Error:  The list in this sentence — “to lower…” and “(to) dig…” — are grammatically parallel but not logically parallel. Through meaning analysis, we understand that the suggestions must be in proper parallel structure “installing pumps” and “digging trenches.”

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Answer-Choice-Analysis-2.png

A. to lower the underground water level and dig trenches  
  Incorrect  : Errors as discussed in the error analysis

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/square-1.png

B. to lower the underground water level and to dig trenches:  
  Incorrect : Parallelism Error leading to Meaning Error:  This choice repeats the error of the original sentence. The only between this choice and Choice A is that this choice explicitly mentions “to” before “dig” to make the list obvious. But this list is illogical.

C. to lower the underground water level and digging trenches: 
  Correct  : This option corrects the error in the original sentence. The two suggestions – “installing” and “digging” – are now grammatically and logically parallel.

D. that lower the underground water level and that trenches be dug: 
  Incorrect  : 
1.  Modifier Errors leading to Meaning Error :
 a. The removal of the “to + verb” phrase changes the meaning by removing the purpose of the pump to lower the underground water level. 
b. The addition of “that” to this option makes the two “that” clauses parallel. Since the first clause modifies “pumps,” the second clause should also modify pumps since the two are joined by “and”. However, this modification is illogical.  2.  Verb Error : The verb “be dug” is a subjunctive verb. This usage is incorrect because there is no trigger word that requires the usage of the subjunctive verb.

E. that lower the underground water level and trench digging: 
  Incorrect  :
1.  Parallelism Error : This option does not offer the needed parallel structure “installing pumps” and “digging trenches.” 
2.  Modifier Error leading to Meaning Error : This choice repeats the error of Choice D with regards to the use of “that”.

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Takeaways-2.png

1. Meaning is paramount. Always make sure you take the time to analyze the intended logical meaning. The intended meaning may be different than what the original sentence structure communicates.
2. Do not be afraid to select a choice that uses a different sentence structure if it correctly communicates the author’s intended logical meaning.
3. Parallel entities must be logically and grammatically parallel.

I hope this helps clarify.
Cheers!
Stacey

daagh · Answer

The firm has proposed two different things. 1 installing pumps to bail out water and 2. digging trenches around the base of the walls. These two functions re required to be represented in // terms, i.e. Installing and digging. C is the only choice.

GK_Gmat · Answer

C. 

'digging' is required to be || with 'installing'. Eliminate everything but C.

trivikram · Answer

proposed installing pumps....digging trenches

C

Abhishek009 · Answer

This question is testing us on Parallelism 
 
To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water tables, a Swedish engineering firm has proposed  installing pumps  ,perhaps solar powered, to lower the underground water level and  digging trenches  around the bases of the stone walls.

Here the  Blue  parts are the proposals of the Engineering firm (which are parallel)

1. Installing
2. Digging

installing pumps , perhaps solar powered ,  to lower the underground water level

Here the  green  and  orange  parts are modifying the Pumps

Abhishek

aragonn · Answer

So what is the purpose of solar power pump - to lower the underground water. 'to verb' shows purpose of verb of the sentence.
what firm has proposed - two things and these two should be parallel - 1. installing pumps, 2. digging trenches
only C is following these two needs.

AkshdeepS · Answer

(A) to lower the underground water level and  dig trenches

(B) to lower the underground water level and  to dig trenches

(C) to lower the underground water level and digging trenches

(D) that lower the underground water level and  that trenches be dug

(E) that lower the underground water level and  trench digging

We are comparing "installing" with "digging". Only C makes sense.

pragya007 · Answer

Many solutions have highlighted that installing is parallel to digging as there are two suggestions given. But where it is mention two suggestions as even after firm we can see has that refer to singular. So firm has suggested .....
That means it has given one single suggestion not two

Thelionking1234 · Answer

I think you have some confusion here.

Yes installing pumps and digging trenches are indeed parallel elements, which are joined by "and" same as GMAT typically frame the sentences with such lists.

Let me try to clear your doubt regarding firm "has" proposed. This is not an inverted sentence, rather it is a direct one. So subject of the sentence is "Firm", so it will take singular verb. "Firm has proposed several things" is a correct sentence.

Definition of Inverted sentence:   An inverted sentence is a sentence in which the predicate (verb) comes before the subject (noun).  Down the street  lived   the man and his wife  without anyone suspecting that  they   were  really spies for a foreign power . ... In English, such an inversion often introduces do-support.

(Green marked is subject and pink one is a verb)

I hope that makes sense.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

Parallel forms connected by  and  must serve the SAME FUNCTION.
A:  pumps to  lower  the underground water level and  dig  trenches 
B:  pumps to  lower  the underground water level and to  dig  trenches 
In these options,  lower  and  dig  are parallel forms connected by  and .
Since the agent for  to lower  is  pumps  (implying that PUMPS will LOWER the water level), the agent for  dig  must also be  pumps  (implying that PUMPS will DIG trenches).
This meaning is nonsensical.
Pumps are not used to dig trenches.
Eliminate A and B.

D:  pumps  that lower the underground water level  and  that trenches be dug  
Here, the two  that -clauses in red seem to be functioning as parallel forms connected by  and .
Since the first red  that -clause serves to modify  pumps , so must the second.
Conveyed meaning:
 pumps that trenches be dug 
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate D.

E:  installing pumps...and trench digging 
Here,  trench digging  (MODIFIER + VERBing) is not parallel with  installing pumps  (VERBing + DIRECT OBJECT).
Eliminate E.

C

D and E:  monuments  threatened by high water tables ...pumps  that lower the water level  
Here, the two colored portions convey contradictory meanings.
Eliminate D and E.

Hoozan · Answer

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water tables, a Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps, perhaps solar powered,  to lower the underground water level and dig trenches  around the bases of the stone walls.

Meaning:  The high water tables are a threat to the Egyptian monuments. To resolve this issue a firm has proposed to do two things i) install pumps and ii) dig trenches. The reason why i) installing pumps was suggested is because by installing pumps the underground water level will reduce, thus reducing the water levels thereby reducing the threat.  (These pumps are probably solar powered)

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments  (Stating a reason to a particular action) 
threatened by high water tables,  (Verb-ed modifier modifying "Egyptian monuments") 
a Swedish engineering firm has proposed  (Main Subject - Swedish engineering firm ; Main verb - has proposed) 
installing pumps, perhaps solar powered,  (additional information about the proposal)   (element 1 of parallelism) 
to lower the underground water level  (additional information about the proposal to install pumps) 
and dig trenches  (second proposal made by the firm) (and - parallelism marker)   (element 2 of parallelism) 
around the bases of the stone walls.  (additional information as to where the trenches must be dug)

As discussed above the firm proposed two things. 1) Installing pumps and 2) digging trenches. Now in the non-underlined part of the sentence we have "installing pumps". Thus to maintain parallelism the second element  dig trenches  must be written in the same structure i.e.  digging trenches

Hence, due to faulty parallelism (A) is incorrect

(B) By placing "to" before "dig trenches" we have made it parallel to "underground water". So now the sentence illogically states that installing pumps does two things 1) It lowers groundwater level and 2) it digs trenches

Due to illogical meaning conveyed, by faulty parallelism, (B) is incorrect

As stated above "installing pumps" and "digging trenches" must be parallel.

By placing a "that" before trenches it seems as if "trenches" is parallel to "lower groundwater". If this isn't convincing then notice the structure "trenches be dug". I believe this is a passive construction which is completely avoidable given choice (C)

Trench digging? We say "digging trenches" and not "trench digging" Why? I am not too sure? Probably an Expert  GMATNinja  could comment on this one.

Correct:  (C)

NakulDiwakar10 · Answer

egmat   MartyTargetTestPrep   AndrewN  'proposed' is a subjunctive trigger then why 'that' is not used in the correct answer

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  NakulDiwakar10 . I think you may be overlooking the fact that  that  in answer choices (D) and (E) does not follow  proposed , but rather  installing pumps . Thus,  that lower the underground water level  modifies  pumps  in those answer choices, rather than acting as a noun for  proposed , as in  proposed that X . Consider the following three sentences, all of which are correct and convey a similar idea:

1)  He proposed raising the legal drinking age.

2)  He proposed that the legal drinking age be raised.

3)  He proposed to raise the legal drinking age.

Concerning 2 and 3, many subjunctive constructs that follow a so-called bossy verb and  that  can easily be turned into an infinitive without  that . Make sure you are not inventing rules without properly understanding the issues that concern them. You run the risk of going into autopilot and not engaging with the sentence at hand.

Thank you for thinking to ask, and good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

CuriosStud · Answer

Okay here is why E is wrong :

When you remove all the unnecessary fluff, the following sentence prevails

a Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps to lower the underground water level and dig trenches around the bases of the stone walls.

So what the sentence is essentially conveying is:

a Swedish engineering firm has proposed two activities around the bases of stone walls - 1. to install pumps and 2. to dig trenches.

With E, the sentence reads - A Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps that lower the underground water level and trench digging around the bases of the stone walls.... Here the later part of the sentence is incomplete post and. The sentence suggests that SE has proposed Trench (adj) modifying digging (verb-ing) but is not clear digging what? hence the sentence is not parallel

With C - A Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps to lower the underground water level and digging trenches around the bases of the stone walls. Here the two activities are installing pumps and digging trenches and hence the right answer.

Raman109 · Answer

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water tables, a Swedish engineering firm has proposed installing pumps, perhaps solar powered,  to lower the underground water level and dig trenches  around the bases of the stone walls.

Option Elimination -

(A) to lower the underground water level and dig trenches - The Firm has proposed installing pumps ....and has proposed dig trenches - not the right parallel structure. We need a verbal or present participle in the part after AND

Another meaning can be "The Firm has proposed installing pumps to 
1. lower the underground water level
2. dig trenches around the bases

Pumps to dig trenches? Ridiculous meaning. Wrong.

(B) to lower the underground water level and to dig trenches - pumps to dig trenches. Wrong.

(C) to lower the underground water level and digging trenches - perfect

(D) that lower the underground water level and that trenches be dug - first, "that" refers to pumps (to show intent, we need "to"), and the second, "that" also refers to pump. Same problem as B. This is a trap answer if we cram the grammar rules without understanding..we see a word propose, and it triggers subjective - no. The structure here is not that "the firm has proposed that pumps be dug." The structure here is "the firm has proposed installing PUMPS that (referring to PUMPS) trenches be dug - does it make sense for pumps to dig trenches? No.

(E) that lower the underground water level and trench digging - first, "that" refers to pumps (to show intent, we need "to"). Moreover, for parallelism's sake, we need the verbal (verb+ing) + noun structure that is clearly represented by C.

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

To help preserve ancient Egyptian monuments threatened by high water

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