Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
vikramm wrote:
There is a widespread belief in the United States and Western Europe that young people have a smaller commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents and that the source of the change lies in the collapse of the "work ethic."
(A) a smaller commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents
(B) less of a commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents
(C) a smaller commitment to work and a career than that of their parents and grandparents
(D) less of a commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents had
(E) a lessening of the commitment to work and a career that their parent and grandparents had
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that young people have less of a commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents had.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• A comparison must always be made between similar thing.
A: This answer choice incorrectly compares "commitment" to "their parents and grandparents" rather than to the commitment their parents and grandparents had; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the term “smaller” to refer to the uncountable noun “commitment”; for a noun such as “commitment", the appropriate equivalent term is “less” or "lesser".
B: This answer choice incorrectly compares "commitment" to "their parents and grandparents" rather than to the commitment their parents and grandparents had; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.
C: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the term “smaller” to refer to the uncountable noun “commitment”; for a noun such as “commitment", the appropriate equivalent term is “less” or "lesser". Further, Option C uses the passive voice construction "that of their parents and grandparents", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
D: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "less of a commitment", conveying the intended meaning - that young people have less of a commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents had. Further, Option D correctly compares "commitment to work and a career" with the commitment "their parents and grandparents had". Additionally, Option D correctly uses the term "less of a" to modify the uncountable noun "commitment". Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "a lessening of the commitment"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies young people have a decrease in the same commitment to work and a career that their parent and grandparents had; the intended meaning is that young people have less of a commitment to work and a career than their parents and grandparents had.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team