By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds

Question

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 million pounds per square inch, scientists  not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created  a semiconductor similar to silicon.

A)not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created 
B) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
C) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create
D) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
E) were not only able to transform the gas into a solid, but they were also able to create

Pls explain

ak_idc · Answer

not only able to....also able to

E seems the best to me.

Damager · Answer

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 million pounds per square inch, scientists  not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created  a semiconductor similar to silicon.

A) not only  were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created  correct usage  is were not only  
B)  not only were  able to transform the gas into a solid but  also creating 
 Has same error as A aslo uses wrong tense creating  
C)  were able not only  to transform the gas into a solid but  to create 
 Were not only able to.... but ... 
D)  were able not only  to transform the gas into a solid but  also creating 
 Same error as C also uses incorrect tense creating 
E) were not only able to transform the gas into a solid, but they were also able to create
 Correct answer were not only able to is correct usage  ,

uvs_mba · Answer

I thought the same thing and I was like oh this is testing idiom.

But stupid %%%% software is like no this is not the correct answer

I swear, you'll be shocked the answer is C. Can someone please explain.

I couldn't even find this question in the forum.

gmacvik · Answer

E looks most parallel....not very clean but still good
D would have been better if it had 'to create'

gmacvik · Answer

Just read your answer after posting mine...
It is a twister...
As I wrote E doesn't look very clean...( but still I selected that)
If I look back C looks ok if we don't fall into a trap of 'not only ....but also.'
not ----but is another idiom but the word 'only' creates confusion

Good one...

ak_idc · Answer

Even I was considering C for brevity. I agree "also" is missing.

But see the sentence "were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create"

"able" is not repeated unlike in E.

to transform...to create are parallel. 

except for that "also" part, everything else is fine with C.

fankor · Answer

Hm....I will add to what ak_idc.
I have seen this in....SAT.
You can get rid of "also" if you want in "Not only...but also."
I know this because I once tutored the kid who pinpointed this problem in SAT verbal section.

uvs_mba · Answer

Thanks ak. I hate GMAT

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds

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