Margaret Mead, the best-known anthropologist of the twentieth century,

Rajeet123

We can not use like to give examples.
Like can be used in comparison (like+noun)

We use such as/ as to show examples.
Also AND is more concise than ALONG WITH.

Main Issue:

1) "such as" and not "like" should be used to give examples.

(A) shape public opinion on fundamentally important areas like attitudes toward children and families, along with - Wrong: 1) like

(B) shape public opinion in such fundamentally important areas as attitudes toward children and families and - Correct

(C) to shape public opinion about such fundamentally important areas like attitudes toward children and families, also about - Wrong: 1) like

(D) the shaping of public opinion for fundamentally important areas such as attitudes toward children and families, and those toward - Wrong: 1) No antecedent for "those" 2) "shaping: < "shape"

(E) the shaping of public opinion around fundamentally important areas like attitudes toward children and families, and those of - Wrong: 1) like 2) "shaping" < "shape" 3) No antecedent for "those"

Sentence is talking about two "Fundamentally Important Areas":
1) Attitudes towards children and families
2) Relative Merits of competition and cooperation

Ans B Uses Such X ("Fundamentally Important Areas") as Y ("Attitudes...") and Z ("Relative Merits...") -> Correct as Such as introduces Examples of the "Fundamentally Important Areas"

Why (D) is wrong:
D) the shaping of public opinion for fundamentally important areas such as attitudes toward children and families, and those toward relative merits of competition and cooperation

"And those" in the second clause is referring back to "Attitudes" so D basically says:
1) Attitudes towards children and families
and
2) Attitudes Towards relative merits of competition and cooperation

->that differs From:
1) Attitudes towards children and families
2) Relative Merits of competition and cooperation
which is why B is correct

B and D remains as we have list of items and we need "such as"

In D "those" has not clear referent and if we consider that it is referring to "attitudes" then the complete sentence has no meaning at all

Hence B

Dosent and in option B require a comma before it. Can anyone explain abhimahna

not necessary

but a comma would be necessary if
Independent Clause , and Independent Clause

along with and together with are preposition. these preposition combine with noun to be preposition phrase working as adverb and modifying the whole clause while refering to the subject.
"and" in conjunction, which connect 2 grammatically similar things.

choice A means
the anthropologist, along with the merits , help shape opinion. this make no sense
choice B equate "attitude " and "merits". this is correct because these 2 things are equal logically

if we see split between "and" and " along with, together with", ask ourself we need an adverb modifying the whole clause or we need 2 thing equal.

regarding "help the shaping"
if we say " anthropologists help to shape", this mean the anthropologist shape. if we say "anthropologict help the shaping", this means, the anthropologist could help other persons's shaping but do not shape. this meaning also is no sense.
I help you. correct
I help you to learn. correct. you learn but not I learn.
I help to shape a good opinion on this point. correct. I shape
"I help the building of this house" is no sense. "help somthing" or "Help doing" do not exist in english because they are no sense.

Hi experts

My query is w.r.t option B on the usage of "opinion in something"
In colloquial english, we say "opinion on something" rather than "opinion in something". Since B is OA, one can infer GMAT accepts the construction "opinion in something"

However, if in the exam the only point of decision rests between opinion on and opinion in, which idiom should one prefer?

Thanks, Devansh

It's just a different usage.

I have an opinion on Physics.

I have an opinion in disciplines of Science such as Physics and Chemistry.

Hello devansh18,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe we can resolve your doubt.

In this context, "public opinion on" and "public opinion in" are both valid constructions that convey the same meaning.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Completely agreement with EducationAisle: "opinion in" and "opinion on" are used in slightly different ways.

We typically use "opinion on" to discuss how someone feels about something. For example: "What's your opinion on the new Justin Bieber album?"

However, when we are referring in general to the beliefs or stances that exist WITHIN a discipline (as opposed to a specific feeling about something), "opinion in" probably makes more sense. For example, in (B), we are referring to the broad range of opinions that exist within those areas, not specific opinions about something.

The GMAT most likely won't ask you to make a decision based on that nuance alone, and trying to come up with a rule for when to use each one isn't a great idea. Unless you're 100% sure about an idiom, you should be conservative and look for other decision points.

I hope that helps!

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