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Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.

a. like nonfiction books

b. as nonfiction books

c. as its interest in nonfiction books

d. like their interest in nonfiction books

e. like its interest in nonfiction books


Its D,
we need to compare "appetite for documentary films" to interest in nonfiction books
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Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.

a. like nonfiction books-wrong comparision

b. as nonfiction books-again the same as A

c. as its interest in nonfiction books-it is fine except fo AS
d. like their interest in nonfiction books--sounds oK but find out whether public is plural or singular
e. like its interest in nonfiction books -- i go for this
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Guys please correct me.

Her we are comparing actions (appetite and interest) and for comparing action we use "as" and not "like".

Should not the answer be C in that case.
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Guys please correct me.

Her we are comparing actions (appetite and interest) and for comparing action we use "as" and not "like".

Should not the answer be C in that case.


I used to look at comparison that way, but it is incorrect. "As" and "like" can be used interchangeably. If C were correct, it would have had a verb after books.
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"the public's appetite for [X], like the public's [something] for [nonfiction books], seems to be on the rise.

X&Y consistency

the format should be [something] for [nonfiction books]

So you want something in the form of answer (D) or (E).

(C) is no good because "as" does not draw a comparison---"like" is used for comparisons as in this case. (Notice I just used "as" because I wasn't drawing a comparison).


But between (D) and (E) which one?

Well, it's also testing singular vs plural (public - singular or plural?)

Public refer to a collection of people, but the word itself is SINGULAR.

So between (D) and (E), you have to choose (E): like its interest in nonfiction books.
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Thanks daagh.

So correct me If I am wrong.

In the GMAT

'Like' is only compatible with either a Noun or a Noun Phrase (when comparing, Infact,it's always a comparison when we use 'Like')

whereas, 'As' is compatible with a Clause ( when comparing)
& it's As + Noun ( when stating Function / Designation)

Are there still any other exceptions to these guidelines?

If yes, please state them.
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how come their does not refer to public's appetite where as its refer to public's appetite. I do not understand please explain
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In American English, public is taken as singular. hence, E is correct. But In British English, public can be either singular or plural. But GMAT is American
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Question ...
The its in the correct answer choice is referring back to a possessive noun form, that of public's appetite. Can pronouns refer back to possessive noun forms?
Would not, then, the correct answer choice essentially read .... like the public's appetite interest for ...?
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Question ...
The its in the correct answer choice is referring back to a possessive noun form, that of public's appetite. Can pronouns refer back to possessive noun forms?
Hi ankitprad, this is in fact a perfect usage: a possessive pronoun referring to a possessive noun!

Quote:
Would not, then, the correct answer choice essentially read .... like the public's appetite interest for ...?
Correct, and that's the intended meaning as well: like the public's appetite interest in nonfiction books
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I thought that "like" can only be used if comparing to similar things.
Are "appetite" and "interest" considered similar?
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I thought that "like" can only be used if comparing to similar things.
Are "appetite" and "interest" considered similar?
Hi fireagablast, basically like is used to depict similar characteristic between two entities.

Here, the two entities are:

i) public's appetite for documentary films
ii) public's interest in nonfiction books

Similar characteristic: Both entities are on the rise.

Another officially correct sentence that you might initially find confusing:

Like the grassy fields and old pastures that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas, the bird itself is vanishing in the northeastern United States as a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in farming practices.

Again, the two entities are:

i) the grassy fields and old pastures
ii) the bird

Similar characteristic: Both entities are vanishing.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the usage of "like", its application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.

(A) like nonfiction books -> "appetite" is compared with "nonfiction books". Incorrect.

(B) as nonfiction books -> as compares verbs, not nouns. Incorrect.

(C) as its interest in nonfiction books -> same as B. Although comparison is better here.

(D) like their interest in nonfiction books -> "their" is incorrect pronoun for "the public's". Incorrect.

(E) like its interest in nonfiction books -> "its" refers to public's and "appetite" is compared with "interest". Incorrect.

So, I think E. :)
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daagh
Expanded E
Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like its interest in nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise. –Here, if momentarily mask the modifier in between the commas, then it will be clear that the verb actually belongs to the public's appetite for documentary films; thus what follow like is not a clause but simply a noun phrase. Hence E is good.

Thank you for your reply. First I thought E is the answer but then I thought maybe ellipses are in play in A.
Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like [ the public's appetite for ]nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.

Do we need an indicator to check if ellipses are used for eg.

Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like for nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.
Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like that for nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.
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I find option choice C to be problematic on the following account:
the pronoun its can't refer to the public alone as it is in the possessive case, so it should refer to public's appetite. now reread the full sentence:
Based on recent box office receipts, the public's appetite for documentary films, like public's appetite interest in nonfiction books, seems to be on the rise.
this construction is awkward.
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In American English, public is taken as singular. hence, E is correct. But In British English, public can be either singular or plural. But GMAT is American

AndrewN EducationAisle

Is collective noun a rule, always considered singular?
If not, how to determine here if singular or plural is correct?
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daagh
In American English, public is taken as singular. hence, E is correct. But In British English, public can be either singular or plural. But GMAT is American

AndrewN EducationAisle

Is collective noun a rule, always considered singular?
If not, how to determine here if singular or plural is correct?
Hello, shanks2020. Yes, collective nouns such as merchandise (i.e. goods) and team are considered singular in American English. About the only category of words you need to be careful about is counting words: amount, number, percent, and so on. For example, while number appears to be a singular word, you can see sentences in which the article ahead of the word, the or a/an, dictates agreement:

1) The number of women... is considered singular (since we are considering a specific number applied to a whole group)

2) A number of women... is considered plural (since we are counting individuals within a group)

I write more about this particular issue in my response to this difficult GMAT Prep question concerning one in five Americans. I hope it helps.

Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew
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