Gmat Sentence Correction 73, 74

73). Building large new hospitals in the bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources, on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone

(B) on the grounds of avoiding duplicated facilities alone

(C) solely in that duplicated facilities should be avoided

(D) while the duplication of facilities should be avoided

(E) if only because the duplication of facilities should be avoided

74). Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during two decades, stringent rationing and planned distribution have allowed the People’s Republic of China to ensure nutritional levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population.

(A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during

(B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in

(C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over

(D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during

(E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for


Answers --

73). Passive constructions are not always wrong on GMAT
E - correct - if only because is correct idiomatic usage -- the main clause needs to be followed logically by because hence if only because is absolutely correct here.
A - incorrect - wordy and illogical
B,C - incorrect - duplicated facilities .... duplication should be avoided and not the facilities...
C - incorrect - in that unidiomatic
D - incorrect - Usage of while not right

74). B is the best answer.
OE - In choice A, the simple past tense hardly increased does not match the present perfect have allowed; consequently, it seems that two different time periods are being discussed. In B, the best choice, has hardly increased parallels have allowed to indicate that the events described took place at the same time. Also in is the best word here for making a comparison between the beginning and the end of the twenty-year period. Choices C and D are awkward and unidiomatic, and choice E fails to specify where there was no increase in per capita food supply.