As rare as something becomes, be it a baseball card or a musical recording or a postage stamp, the more avidly it is sought by collectors.
(A) As rare as something becomes, be it
(B) As rare as something becomes, whether it is
(C) As something becomes rarer and rarer, like
(D) The rarer something becomes, like
(E) The rarer something becomes, whether it is

The more.....the rarer....hence, A, B and C are out.

Between D and E, D changes meaning. Hence, E.

Agree it should be E

Another E

what is wrong with d?

thanks

IMO E

let me try ..

so you agree it is either D or E, the problem with D is 'like' compares nouns only. But left side part (underlined part) is a clause so comparision is not equal.

hope that helps?

I have seen cases of comparison where like is correct if the noun of the clause is compared with the noun.

For e.g.

More than thirty years ago Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can "jump," as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.
a)as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
b)like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
c)as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
d)like pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
e)as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other one
OA:

Now on the question in this link:
In the above question, I think they are not comparison but the examples of "something".

IMO D is wrong for :
1) like x, y, or z should be next to 'something', and also ,as they are examples and not similar things, "such as" should be used.
2) E is correctly giving example using "it" as a pronoun for "something" and same pronoun has been used in the last clause.

Why is not A in your e.g?

See the link below: (great explanation for like vs as)
http://www.urch.com/forums/gmat-sentenc ... l#post1567

E it is

Answer E