Gas hydrates, chemical compounds of water and natural gas,

Question

Gas hydrates, chemical compounds of water and natural gas, are increasingly being studied for their potential  to be huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and  significant contributors to global warming.

A. to be huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and
B. to be huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and even as
C. as huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and
D. as huge reservoirs of energy, and the possible cause of sea floor instability,
E. as huge reservoirs of energy, as possible causes of sea floor instability, and even as

anandsebastin · Answer

E  for parallelism. 

as X, as Y and even as Z.

GMATT73 · Answer

From Cambridge:

potential 
noun  

someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve or succeed:

The region has enormous  potential for  economic development.

    

You have the  potential to  reach the top of your profession.

Oxford also makes no reference to "potential as.."

This being the case, I'll have to take (A) guys...

uvs_mba · Answer

So then what's wrong with B? Wouldn't "and even as" make the meaning more clear?

GMATT73 · Answer

Makes the same mistake, just disguises the incorrect idiom a little better :wink:

. Note: Gas hydrates, chemical compounds of water and natural gas, are increasingly being studied for their potential to be huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and even as significant contributors to global warming.

ivymba · Answer

All look equally bad , its not E for sure . Its between A and B , Going for the coin toss here

And I get B :lol:

E) as huge reservoirs of energy, as possible causes of sea floor instability, and even as It should say possible cause

girikorat · Answer

Observe only the bold part of the sentence...(ignore the other as of now)


 Gas hydrates, chemical compounds of water and natural gas, are increasingly being studied  for their potential to be huge reservoirs of energy, possibly causing sea floor instability, and  significant contributors to global warming.  


We need something like "as" OR "to be" to have a meaningful sentence.

Only Choice B and E give this option (as both of them have "as" @ the end)

E. as huge reservoirs of energy,  as possible causes of sea floor instability , and even as

The bold part in choice E is not appealing.
I would go with B in this case as it looks better.

jerrywu · Answer

Hi Matt,

OA here is (E)

but I am not convinced as I am taught  potential as  is unidiomatic in my GMAT class..

A is my fav.

open to discuss...

Gas hydrates, chemical compounds of water and natural gas,

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