mikemcgarry wrote:
Although Bryant was better at gaining the support of rural voters than was McKinley, people who believed a silver-based economy would bring prosperity, McKinley won the 1896 election on a strong industry-based vote.
(A) Bryant was better at gaining the support of rural voters than was McKinley
(B) Bryant was better gaining the support of rural voters than McKinley
(C) Bryant was better than McKinley at gaining the support of rural voters
(D) compared to McKinley, Bryant had gained the support of rural voters more effectively
(E) unlike McKinley, Bryant was better at gaining the support of rural votersLogic is important on SC questions. If a choice is 100% grammatically correct but logically flawed, it is wrong. For a discussion of logic on the GMAT SC, as well as the OE of this particular question see:
Logical Splits on GMAT Sentence Correction (A) Bryant was better at gaining the support of rural voters than was McKinley
The modifier (people who...) following the underlined part should logically modify the rural voters and cannot modify McKinley. Also, the expression "Bryant was better than was McKinley" is incorrect. It should be Bryant was better than McKinley(B) Bryant was better gaining the support of rural voters than McKinley
Same mistake as A. The modifier following the underlined part should logically modify the rural voters and cannot modify McKinley. Also, "Bryant was better gaining" is unidiomatic. It should be Bryant was better ar gaining. (C) Bryant was better than McKinley at gaining the support of rural voters
This is the correct answer. The modifier following the underlined part logically modifies the rural voters. The idiomatic issues seen in A and B are avoided in this option.(D) compared to McKinley, Bryant had gained the support of rural voters more effectively
Same mistake as A and B. The modifier following the underlined part should logically modify the rural voters. (E) unlike McKinley, Bryant was better at gaining the support of rural voters
This does not repeat the modifier mistake in A, B and D. However, this is also incorrect. If we use comparative forms, such as "better" in this sentence, then these should be followed by "than..." better than, fewer than etc.