Turtles, like Other Reptiles, can Endure Long Fasts, in their Ability to Survive on Weekly GMAT Sentence Correction

Question: Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

(A) fasts, in their ability to survive
(B) fasts, having their ability to survive
(C) fasts, due to having the ability of surviving
(D) fasts because they are able to survive
(E) fasts because of having the ability of surviving

‘Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly’ - is a GMAT sentence correction question. These types of questions contain grammatical errors in the underlined sentence and we have to choose the correct statement from the options. GMAT sentence correction includes determining possible errors in the original sentence and then finding the accurate answer option that fixes it. Sentence Correction questions intend to examine a well-formed sentence as grammatical, clear, and concise.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Option A: This answer option A contains an error of meaning. This sentence tries to convey the causal relationship between the turtle’s capacity to survive. But it is on irregular feedings so their ability to survive increases. Here the phrase "in their ability to survive", wrongly to conveys the relationship. It implies that turtles can endure long fasts as this is their intrinsic ability to survive. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Option B: This answer option fails to convey the intended meaning of the sentence. Here the phrase "in their ability to survive", wrongly to conveys the relationship. This makes the sentence becomes awkward. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Option C: This answer option uses the unidiomatic construction "ability of". It also uses the phrase "ability to" in a wrong meaning. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Option D: This answer option uses proper idiom. The use of correct idiom throughout the sentence bring out the correct and causal nature of the turtles' two abilities. The use of the phrase "because they are" is used as a connector. Thus, this option is correct.

Option E: This answer option makes the same idiom errors as found in Option C. Thus, this option is incorrect.

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