To this day, researchers and theorists

[Kannn]

To this day, researchers and theorists debate whether bubonic plague caused The Black Death, a pandemic that swept the world in the middle of the fourteenth century.

a) whether
b) whether or not
c) about whether
d) as to whether
e) if

Scroll for OA (Not sure how to hide the OA)
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B and E are obviously wrong.

What is wrong with C & D?

Explanation says that,

(C) "About whether" is both redundant and awkward.

(D) "As to whether" is both redundant and awkward.

What is redundant here? Isn't 'debate about' correct idiom?

Can experts help please?

Thanks

[jnelson0612]

To this day, researchers and theorists debate whether bubonic plague caused The Black Death, a pandemic that swept the world in the middle of the fourteenth century.

a) whether
b) whether or not
c) about whether
d) as to whether
e) if

Scroll for OA (Not sure how to hide the OA)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
B and E are obviously wrong.

What is wrong with C & D?

Explanation says that,

(C) "About whether" is both redundant and awkward.

(D) "As to whether" is both redundant and awkward.

What is redundant here? Isn't 'debate about' correct idiom?

Can experts help please?

Thanks

"Debate about" is not the correct idiom and is redundant. You are going to debate "a topic"; you don't need to say the you are going to debate "about a topic". You just launch right into the word "whether" after "debate.

For example, "We will debate whether solar energy is feasible."

[K. Ali]

Jemie,

But there is not alternative given. They should be debating between alternative causes of the pandemic. But there is no alternative at all.

How to know that I will put "whether" here?

[tim]

"whether" is EXACTLY the word that creates a dichotomy between the thing that is mentioned and its unmentioned opposite. if i wonder whether it will rain, i am basically presenting the possibility that it will rain alongside the possibility that it won't. this is how "whether" is used on the GMAT..