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Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest
frank
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This is from GMATPREP

Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon, a fungus has for centuries been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees, to become the largest living single organism known to humans.

(A) has for centuries been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees, to become
(B) has slowly woven its way through the roots of trees for centuries, and so becoming
(C) that has been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees for centuries has become
(D) that has for centuries slowly woven its way through the roots of trees and has become
(E) that, having slowly woven its way through the roots of trees for centuries, to become

Can someone please explain to me why A is not correct? Does it have to do with "to become"? The OA is C. Thanks.
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A - has two problems, first, placement of for centuries is incorrect; it seems fungus possesses "for century". Second, to become is incorrectly modifying weaving - Fungus is not weaving to become the largest .... As a result of weaving they have become largest....

Pathik
Re: Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest
Chetan
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This is so tricky ! I tried to eliminate a few answers, but not very confident about my thought process.

frank wrote:
This is from GMATPREP

Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon, a fungus has for centuries been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees, to become the largest living single organism known to humans.

(A) has for centuries been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees, to become
>> the tense is incosistent present perfect progressive tense (has been weaving) ; to become (present tense ?)
(B) has slowly woven its way through the roots of trees for centuries, and so becoming
>> "woven" (past tense) nothing in the original sentence indicates that the tree has stopped weaving its way.
(C) that has been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees for centuries has become
>> keeps the tense consistent (present prefect progressive tense.) fungus has been slowly weaving and has become.

(D) that has for centuries slowly woven its way through the roots of trees and has become
>> Same issue as B. woven (past tense)
(E) that, having slowly woven its way through the roots of trees for centuries, to become
>> " a fungus that is sandwitched between the modifiers. Unnecessary and awkward.

Can someone please explain to me why A is not correct? Does it have to do with "to become"? The OA is C. Thanks.
Re: Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest
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Chetan wrote:
This is so tricky ! I tried to eliminate a few answers, but not very confident about my thought process.

frank wrote:
This is from GMATPREP


(A) has for centuries been slowly weaving its way through the roots of trees, to become
>> the tense is incosistent present perfect progressive tense (has been weaving) ; to become (present tense ?)
(


I think "to become" infinitive is tense independent, though I agree it has other problems
Stacey Koprince
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Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 2007
Location: San Francisco
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I apologize that we missed your question when it was originally posted.

Yes, the problem with A is that "to become." First, we generally don't use infinitives after commas, so you can remember that for future. Second, with this usage, the meaning would be "in order to become" - she studied hard to become the best student in her class. She did something on purpose in order to become something else.

The fungus has not been weaving its way through the roots on purpose in order to become the largest organism known to humans. :)
Beneath the soil of the Malheur National Forest
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