Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of FunThe daily routine of a peasant in pre-industrial societies was largely dominated by sustenance activities and social obligations – work, child care, household repairs, and prayer,
and leisure rarely.
(A) and leisure rarely
(B) and leisure was rare
(C) with leisure as rare
(D) with leisure as a rarity
(E) leisure a rarity
Explanation:
The sentence talks about the daily routine of a peasant in pre-industrial society and mentions the activities as work, child care, household repairs, and prayer. Further, by using conjunction "and" the sentence adds another information that leisure in the life of such peasant was rare.
(A) and leisure rarely
Two independent clauses are joined by "and". Choice (A) doesn't form a clause as there is no verb. Rarely is a modifier for leisure. OUT.
(B) and leisure was rare
Conveys the intended meaning. The given choice is a clause.
KEEP IT.(C) with leisure as rare
Alters the meaning by comparing leisure to rare.
Further,
Two major uses of the word "with":
1. To indicate that one thing or person is accompanied by another: "Tim went with Ron to see a nine-hour documentary about Weiner dogs."
2. To modify or describe an action: "Milena ate an entire pizza with great enthusiasm." The phrase "with great enthusiasm" just describes the action, "Mila ate."
In option (C) "with" doesn't serve either of the purpose. OUT.
(D) with leisure as a rarity
Wrong for the same reason as (C).
(E) leisure a rarity
After prayer there is a "comma" instead of "and" to separate two independent clauses. Further, "leisure a rarity" is not a clause. OUT.
ANSWER B.