George Washington dedicated his life to the economic strengthening of the south with improvement of soil and diversification of corps.
A. the economic strengthening of the south with improvement of soil and diversification of corps.
B. strengthening the economy in the south with soil improvement and diversification of corps.
C. the strengthening the economy of the south through soil improvement and crop diversification.
D. the strengthening of the economy of the south through improving soil and crop diversifying.
E. the economic strengthening in the south with improving soil and diversifying corp.
OA is C

2 things: first, please remember to use the correct subject (first 5-8 words of the problem) and, second, please give us some specifics about whatever troubled you on this problem. Thanks!


I think there's a typo in your C by the way (the correct answer) - I'm assuming it should read "the strengthening OF the economy..."

What does the original sentence mean? He wanted to make the south stronger economically. Then I have "with" 2 things. Is this HOW he tried to strengthen the south's economy? Are these two entirely separate things he also dedicated his life to? It should be the former (otherwise, what are these other random concepts doing there?), but the word "with" doesn't actually indicate any intent or cause-effect relationship. Elim A. Also B and E.

C and D both use "through" which now actually indicates an appropriate cause/effect relationship. D, however, says we're going to strengthen the economy through "improving soil and crop diversifying" - that's not parallel. You'd have to say "diversifying crops."

C it is!

The OP is correct in his copying of choice C. Choice C has no "of" - I have verified this in the actual GmatPrep

It simply reads - C: the strengthening the economy of the south through soil improvement and crop diversification

How is this sentence correct?

i bet the first "the" isn't there: GW dedicated his life to strengthening the economy...

if it is there, then the problem contains a typographical error.

I checked the original material, the right info as below:

George Washington Carver dedicated his life to the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops.
(A) the economic strengthening of the South with improvement of soil and diversification of crops
(B) strengthening the economy in the South with soil improvement and the diversification of crops
(C) strengthening the economy of the South through soil improvement and crop diversification
(D) the strengthening of the economy of the South through improving soil and crop diversifying
(E) the economic strengthening in the South with improving soil and diversifying crops

THANKS MGMAT!

you're welcome sir.

Hi Ron,

I just wonder when to use "to+infinitive" and when to use "to+present participle".
Thanks in advance.

this is one of those case-by-case idiomatic things. sorry i don't have a better answer than that ... but i don't.

in general, the sorts of constructions that take to + -ing are abstract concepts having to do with the way you feel about something:
committed to ___ing
dedicated to ___ing
opposed to ___ing
etc.
of course, i may just be coming up with lots of these right now because my brain is on that particular track (the power of suggestion), but that's most of what i come up with.

there are hundreds if not thousands of constructions that use the infinitive.
you should just note the ones that fool you, put them on flash cards, and study them. that's the best way to go about it.
unfortunately, there are no truly general principles when it comes to idiomatic usage. except, of course, for the general principle "whatever gmac says is correct."

Thanks

: )