248. Doctors generally agree that such factors as cigarette smoking, eating rich foods high in fats, and alcohol consumption not only do damage by themselves but also aggravate genetic predispositions toward certain diseases.
(A) not only do damage by themselves but also aggravate
(B) do damage by themselves but also are aggravating to
(C) are damaging by themselves but also are aggravating
(D) not only do damage by themselves, they are also aggravating to
(E) are doing damage by themselves, and they are also aggravating
Solution:
Idiom
The correct usage is not only but also. Hence, B, C, and D can be eliminated.
E is awkward in the usage of are doing and also aggravating
A is the best choice.
OG Solution:
Idiom + Logical predication
This correctly written sentence uses the construction not only (x) but also (y); x is the simple present verb do damage and y is the parallel verb aggravate. The simple present tense should be used for a general statement such as this one. When used as a verb, aggravate clearly means to make worse; the adjective aggravating is instead widely interpreted to mean annoying.
(A) Correct. This sentence correctly uses the not only but also construction to explain the parallel effects of the factors.
(B) Are aggravating to is not parallel to do damage; aggravating suggests a different meaning than does aggravate, using but also without using not only is incorrect
(C) The form are aggravating distorts the meaning of the sentence; using but also without using not only is incorrect
(D) Using not only without using but also is incorrect; are aggravating to is not parallel to do damage; aggravating suggests a different meaning
(E) The simple present tense, rather than the present progressive, should be used to present a general statement; aggravating distorts meaning
The correct answer is A.
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution:
(A) not only do damage by themselves but also aggravate
(B) do damage by themselves but also are aggravating to
(C) are damaging by themselves but also are aggravating
(D) not only do damage by themselves, they are also aggravating to
(E) are doing damage by themselves, and they are also aggravating
Solution:
Idiom
The correct usage is not only but also. Hence, B, C, and D can be eliminated.
E is awkward in the usage of are doing and also aggravating
A is the best choice.
OG Solution:
Idiom + Logical predication
This correctly written sentence uses the construction not only (x) but also (y); x is the simple present verb do damage and y is the parallel verb aggravate. The simple present tense should be used for a general statement such as this one. When used as a verb, aggravate clearly means to make worse; the adjective aggravating is instead widely interpreted to mean annoying.
(A) Correct. This sentence correctly uses the not only but also construction to explain the parallel effects of the factors.
(B) Are aggravating to is not parallel to do damage; aggravating suggests a different meaning than does aggravate, using but also without using not only is incorrect
(C) The form are aggravating distorts the meaning of the sentence; using but also without using not only is incorrect
(D) Using not only without using but also is incorrect; are aggravating to is not parallel to do damage; aggravating suggests a different meaning
(E) The simple present tense, rather than the present progressive, should be used to present a general statement; aggravating distorts meaning
The correct answer is A.
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution: