OG - SC - #108

[Hei]

As well as heat and light, the Sun is the source of a continuous stream of atomic particles known as the solar wind.

A.
B. Besides heat and light, also the Sun is the source of a continuous stream
C. Besides heat and light, the Sun is also the source of a continuous streaming
D. The Sun is the source not only of heat and light, but also of a continuous stream
E. The Sun is the source not only of heat and light but, as well, of a continuous streaming

The answer is D. However, I thought that the comma created a fragment. No?

[mrohekar]

1) Let us look at the correctness of the question :
The sentence states that heat and light are the source of atomic particles. This is not right as the Sun is the source not the heat and light.
Hence A , B & C are eliminated.

2) D is the answer because of
a) The sun is the source of atomic particles
b) Usage of correct idiom ' Not only X but also Y.

3) E uses the incorrect idiom Not only X but as well X

[dbernst]

Hei, mrohekar brings up an important point about GMAT verbal in this thread: it is better to look for provably incorrect answer choices and eliminate them than to simply search for the best answer. Additionally, a comma, which is a connecting device, rarely creates a sentence fragment. If anything, a comma sometimes create a run-on sentence, while a semicolon (or period) often creates a sentence fragment.

Hope that helps!
-dan