According to a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Resources,

A quick question:
Isnt was not needed in option B. I seldom get confused in these type of questions.

The ‘ was’ is elliptic and hence acceptable

B is the best answer
AC: Comparison issue; can't compare people to averages
DE: Idiom issue for "as...as"
B: seems suspect, because we are comparing a singular noun to plural noun. However, correct according to following explanation.

Explanation:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pos ... tml#p45295

Splits
1)
ABD: "likely" + to be
CE: "likely" needs infinitive after it

According to a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Resources, Americans of Middle Eastern descent were twice as likely as was the national average to be self-employed.

(A) as was the national average to be self-employed -- illogical comparison -americans vs national average

(B) as the average American to be self-employed - Correct

(C) as the national average that they would be self-employed -- illogical comparison -americans vs national average

(D) to be self-employed than was the average American. -- idiom issue as likely as is needed

(E) that they would be self-employed than was the national average. -- idiom issue as likely as is needed

Answer B

According to a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Resources, Americans of Middle Eastern descent were twice as likely as was the national average to be self-employed.


(A) as was the national average to be self-employed

(B) as the average American to be self-employed

(C) as the national average that they would be self-employed

(D) to be self-employed than was the average American.

(E) that they would be self-employed than was the national average

Main Issues:

1) Comparison
2) Idiom: "X as likely as Y"

(A) as was the national average to be self-employed - Wrong: 1) Comparison

(B) as the average American to be self-employed - Correct

(C) as the national average that they would be self-employed - Wrong: 1) Comparison 2) Wordy

(D) to be self-employed than was the average American. - Wrong: 1) Idiom

(E) that they would be self-employed than was the national average. - Wrong: 1) Idiom 2) Comparison

According to a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Resources, Americans of Middle Eastern descent were twice as likely as was the national average to be self-employed.


Here the Americans of Middle Eastern descent are being compared. So the comparison logically should be to Americans of some other descent.
But in A, Americans are literally compared to the national average. So A is out.

Clean comparison. Americans of Middle eastern descent is compared to the average American.
keep it. Lets check other options.

Same as A, Americans are compared to national average.

idiom error. as likely as is correct, as likely to be is wrong.

as likely as is the correct idiom. As likely than is wrong.

This leaves us with C as our answer choice.

because there is an ellipsis in choice B. "as WERE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN " is understood. but "were" can not go with "the american" . So, B is wrong.

I choose A.

the idiom is As likely as

Option A,B,C only preserve this rule,
D,E are out.
Comparison has to be made with "Americans of Middle Eastern descent " .
In option A and C, they are compared with National average.
Option B comparison is made with Americans, - Correct formation in B

IMO B

Hi thangvietnam

Please look at Ron's explanation and example. https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... tml#p45295

According to a 1996 study published in the Journal of Human Resources, Americans of Middle Eastern descent were twice as likely as was the national average to be self-employed.

(A) as was the national average to be self-employed "Americans of ME descent" is being incorrectly compared to "national average". Eliminate.

(B) as the average American to be self-employed Correct answer - comparison error has been corrected ("Americans of ME descent" is correctly being compared to "the average American") and no new errors are introduced.

(C) as the national average that they would be self-employed Same error as in (A). Eliminate.

(D) to be self-employed than was the average American. Incorrect idiomatic usage of "twice as likely...than", the correct usage would be "twice as likely...as". Eliminate.

(E) that they would be self-employed than was the national average. "that they would be..." is incorrect, correct usage would be "to be...". Also, same error as in (D). Eliminate.

Hope this helps.

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