RonPurewal wrote:
in choice b, 'as well as emit' is just plain wrong. memorize this as idiomatic usage if you like, but you can't use 'as well as' with that type of verb form.
Hi Ron, this GMATPrep problem uses the construction as well as in the correct answer choice in a different way
The ecosystems of barrier islands are extremely vulnerable--
whether from natural processes like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or the ever-increasing pressures of development.
(A) whether from natural processes like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or
(B) whether from natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, or also
(C) to processes that are natural like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, and also
(D) to processes that are natural ones like shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to
(E) to natural processes such as shoreline recession, rising sea levels, and destructive hurricanes, as well as to
Here's another one.
Gasoline marketing is undergoing major changes as stations often
not only add convenience stores but also combine with major fast-food chains to build complexes where customers can shop and
eat as well as buy gasoline.
So I believe GMAT accepts the use of "as well as" as a quasi-coordinator as other sources do. For instance
http://books.google.com/books?id=2yJusP ... q=&f=falselook for as well as. I have another sources with examples of as well as coordinating two verbs in present simple.
Perhaps in option A as well as is playing the role of an adverbial modifier, since is preceded by a comma, modifying the previous clause. Another problem in B might the use of having that seems a little awkward at least to me.
What do you think?