[求助]关于not...or的用法和平行问题

zouyochin

Researchers hypothesize that granitic soil is the ideal construction material for the desert tortoise because it is not so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause tunnels to collapse.

 

A.      so hard that it makes burrowing difficult or so soft that it could cause

B.       hard enough to make burrowing difficult or soft enough as to cause

C.      so hard as to make burrowing difficult or soft enough so it causes

D.      as hard as to make burrowing difficult or as soft as to cause

E.       too hard, making burrowing difficult, nor too soft, so as to cause

选A，貌似考点是so...that和so...that的平行问题，我想问的是这里的or可不可以替换为nor，not在这句话里可以同时否定so hard和so soft么。如果将E后面的so as to cause改成ing形式与前面的making平行，E选项对么？同问B如果改成hard enough to make burrowing difficult or soft enough to cause是不是也平行了？A中的两个so that全改成so as to可不可以，在这里so that和so as to哪个更好？

谢谢指点！

rabbitzzy

关于or和nor

金山词霸里找了一段解释，不知道有没有帮助：

The traditional rule requires that nor  be used following  neither   in expressions in which the negation is carried over to the second element: He is neither able nor  (not  or )  willing to go.  Nor is likewise required when a negation is carried over into the second of two independent clauses,  in which caseit also triggers inversion of the subject and the auxiliary verb in the second clause: 

传统规则要求nor 用于 neither 后面， 在这种表达中，否定放在第二个部分：他既不能也 （不用 or ) 不愿走。 Nor在当两个独立句子中的第二个也被否时被用， 在这种用法中，它也引起第二个句子主语和助动词的转变：

He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the future; 

现在他找不到任何人，以后也别梦想找到任何人 ；

Jane will never compromise with Bill, nor will Bill compromise with Jane. 

简决不会同比尔和解，而比尔也决不会同简和解。 

When the first negative is expressed by not  or  never,  however,  and when the second conjoined element is a verb phrase, the use of nor  is often optional:  

然而当第一个否定词用not 或 never 表达， 且当第二个连结部分是动词短语时，nor 的用法通常可选择： 

He will not permit the change, or (or  nor )  even consider it.  

他决不会容许改变，或者（或者用 nor ） 甚至考虑它。  

When a noun phrase of the type no this or that  is introduced by  no, or  is more common than  nor :  

当一个名词短语以形式no this or that 被 no，or 引入时比 nor 更常用： 

He has no experience or interest (less frequently  nor interest )  in chemistry.  

对于化学他既没经验也没兴趣（很少用 nor interest ) 。 

Oris also more common than  nor   when such a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or adverb phrase is introduced by not :  

Or在下面这种情况下比 nor 常用， 如一个名词短语、形容词短语或副词短语被not 引导时： 

He is not a philosopher or a statesman. 

他既不是哲学家也不是政治家。

We were not rich or happy. See Usage Note at neither, or 1

我们既不富有也不快乐

so ... that确实是这题的关键，这个表达不说是GMAT喜欢的表达，至少从意思连贯上来说要比too hard和hard enough好很多（仔细推敲的话逻辑意思和感情色彩是有区别的）

so that和so as to如果逻辑主语一致的话，多数应该是可以互换的，具体情况有待验证，这题貌似可以的。