Many investors base their choice between bonds and stocks on comparing

Question

Many investors base their choice  between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to  the dividends available on common stocks.

(A) between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to

(B) among bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields to

(C) between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with

(D) among bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields and

(E) between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with

daagh · Accepted Answer

Let us not bother whether it is ‘ comparison with’  or  ‘comparison to’ , which I understand is not being tested by GMAT these days. But the primary clue is that a preposition such as  ‘on’  has to be followed by a noun or noun phrase. There is no escape from this rule. So it has to be  ‘on comparisons of ’. Any other expression may be ignored from consideration. So ADE are out. Between B and C, as the comparison is essentially between two things namely bonds and stocks, we have to use ‘ between ’ rather than ‘ among ’. Choice C is correct.

Supercat · Answer

I'd say (C) for three reasons reasons, three things are tested here. 

1)  compare with vs compare to   (and by extension,  comparison  with/to)
...Either preposition may be correct, but it depends on usage.  Compare with  stresses  differences , while  compare to  stresses  similarities . Here, we're comparing differences between bond yields and stock dividends, something different enough so as to cause one to choose one investment versus the other. 

2)  between vs. among.  
Here we're comparing two entities, stocks vs. bonds. So between is correct. (If you have any trouble with that, by the way, know that 'tween' comes from the same roots as 'two' and 'twice')

3)  comparisons vs. comparing . 
Just need a simple noun here to be the object of the preposition "on".  Comparing  can be a noun, but it sounds awkward here, whereas  comparisons  is perfect.

(C) gets all these right.

nakib77 · Answer

OA is C. 

1. 'Compare to' Vs 'Compare with'
'Compare to' is used to compare to unlike things and tell the similarity between
them.
'Compare with' is used to compare two like things and tell the difference between
them.

This narrows choices down to 'C' & 'E'

2. 'Among' Vs 'Between'

'Among' - used when dealign with over 2 things
'Between' - used when dealing with 2 things

This narows choices down to 'A' , 'C', 'E'

Between choices 'C' and 'E', the difference is the usage 'comparing' vs
'comparison'

'comparison' is an act of 'comparing'.
Also note the usage 'based on ....comparisons ...with'

macjas · Answer

Here is my take on it:

Firstly, according to MGMAT, the GMAT ignores the difference between 'compare to' and 'compare with'. (pg.148 Sentence Correction guide)

Many investors base their choice  between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to  the dividends available on common stocks.

A between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to 
 seems to imply the choice is based on the act of comparing rather than the comparison itself

B among bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields to 
 incorrect use of 'among'

C between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with   OK  
 seems kosher: between is correctly used and the choice is based on the outcome of the comparison rather than the on act of comparing.

D among bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields and 
 incorrect use of 'among'

E between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with 
 seems to imply the choice is based on the act of comparing rather than the comparison itself

thangvietname · Answer

I have a different idea
on arriving the hotel, I study gmat immediately

in this sentence, a correct one, on following by doing.

the point in this sentence is that if doing is used as pure noun, and a pure noun exist, specifically coparision, we should you noun form , and do not use doing as pure a noun. honestly, we need to do about gerund, participle and doing as pure noun to understand this question properly. these points are not explained enough in grammar book and in gmat og books and many persons fail.

sayantanc2k · Answer

thangvietnam  With the same reasoning that you have furnished, wouldn't "on arrival" be more appropriate than "on arriving"? This in turn would lead to the same explanation that Daagh provided: the preposition "on" followed by a noun.

However I beg to differ with the opinion that any preposition must be followed by a noun (phrase) or a pronoun (phrase).

After reaching the hotel, I called up John...... is there any error in this sentence?

The preposition "after" is followed by a gerund - the same structure as that in A,D and E.  daagh  Sir, kindly correct me, if I am making any mistake.

manhasnoname · Answer

Could someone clarify "comparisons" vs "comparing" ??

comparisons is a noun, whereas comparing is a verb. In the given context, I think comparing is correct. What is it I'm missing. Can someone please fill me?

sayantanc2k · Answer

Th correct usage is:
base on + (noun).

My conclusion is based on my observation.... correct.

"Comparing" here is also a noun - a gerund ( not a verb as you mentioned) - but when available, a concrete noun is preferred to a gerund.

My conclusion is based on my observing ... wrong.

Prateek176 · Answer

GMATNinja  ,  daagh  ,  AjiteshArun  ,  gmatexam439

Please elaborate the POE for A and E . B and D are very easy to eliminate.

Regards
PB

arun6765 · Answer

Prateek176

Not an expert but let me try this one.

Between is used when there are 2 entities and among when there are more than 2 entities. Hence, bonds and stocks require between

So B & D is gone

Now see the bold part and remove the fluff.

Many investors base their choice   between bonds and stocks   on  on comparisons of bond yields to the dividends available on common stocks. 
So as highlighted above "on" is a preposition and thus require a noun, so comparison should be used instead of ing form comparing.

OA  E

Hope it helps.

emcheeks · Answer

verb + ing or verb + ed form (comparing) of a noun refers to the action/process of that noun.

the noun (comparisons) form refers to the results.

Here, many investors base their choice on the comparison which the  result  of this action.

I know you guys have seen many other correct sentences that use "comparing", but this question obviously wants to test you on the usage of noun and verb+ing forms. That's why you want to consider the above principles. If there are no other answers that include different forms like this problem or that answer has something else wrong in it, "comparing" might be right.

Compare to vs. Compare with
 
compare to: two distinct things, find their similarities

compare with: two similar things, find their differences.

Here, investors want to compare two similar things, find their differences, and choose the better one.

varshas044 · Answer

Many investors base their choice  between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields  to the dividends available on common stocks.

(A) between bonds and stocks on  comparing  bond yields  to 
1. “Comparing --- to” is wrong since bonds and stocks belong to the same category of items. 
2. Compared to – used for different category of items. Compared with – used for same category of items
3. “Base --- on comparing” is wrong, It should be “based on comparison” ------ based on always takes a noun 
INCORRECT

(B)  among  bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields  to 
1. “Among” is wrong if comparing 2 things 
2. Comparison to --- incorrect (should be “comparison with” or “comparing with”) 
INCORRECT

(C) between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with
1. CORRECT usage of “between” and comparison with” 
CORRECT

(D)  among  bonds and stocks on  comparing  bond yields  and 
1. among is wrong ------INOCRRECT 
2. “comparing ----- a AND b” is incorrect.

(E) between bonds and stocks  on comparing  bond yields with
1. “base --- on comparing” is incorrect ------- should be “base --- on comparison” 
INCORRECT

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Many investors base their choice between bonds and stocks on comparing

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