GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: Painting a picture with a brush is like playing a

Hello again, everyone. I suspect this question will prove more contentious than others, in large part because no sentence is entirely incorrect. They are all free of grammatical errors. Furthermore, not every split is one that can be used as a basis for a definitive elimination—in fact, none can. It is a question in which clear and concise wins the day, and there is little more to it than that. Just have fun and be open to learning something new. I will adopt a slightly different method of discussion to break down the answer choices.



Split #1: Like versus not unlike—Of course, we all know that like is used to draw a comparison. To say that something is like something else is to point out a similarity between two elements. But its double-negative cousin, not unlike, can operate in a similar capacity, only this latter construct offers a bit more wiggle room between what, exactly, is being compared. For instance, if I were comparing one boxer to another boxer, I would probably use like to highlight their similarities: Tyson Fury fights like a man who is much lighter on his feet. But notice that in the sentence at hand, we are comparing painting a picture with a brush to playing a sport with a tool of the trade. A brush and any of the "tools of the trade" listed are not all that similar, and neither are the activities themselves. Can you imagine playing baseball with a paintbrush? How about golf, tennis, or hockey? To acknowledge that the comparison takes some liberties, then, not unlike is more fitting. It is not that like is incorrect, just that not unlike is more apt. Thus, answer choices (B) and (C) are forerunners on this consideration.

Split #2: whether a bat, club, racket, or stick versus whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—Again, I would not say that either of these is necessarily wrong. Does the article a really make that much of a difference? Typically, a whether X or Y construct will repeat the article if X and Y are not the same element. For instance, we would write, I have to decide whether to buy a Snickers bar or a Kit-Kat when I get to the store. Both are candy bars, but they are different types of candy bars, so the article is usually repeated. Juxtapose this with a more direct comparison: Whether a million dollars or twenty, money can be spent just as fast. (We would not say a twenty.) Now, is it incorrect to omit the article if the parallel elements are not the same? Not really. Sometimes leaving out such repetition makes the sentence more direct and emphatic: Whether a Pepsi or Coke, I am simply not a fan of colas. What it all boils down to in this question is which option is safer? I would say the one with the repetition of articles, since there is no particular need for emphasis. Thus, answer choices (B) and (D) are forerunners on this consideration.

Split #3: All five choices provide different endings—I will parse the mini-splits within them using the | symbol.

(A) but | at | other times | it is | your worst enemy
(B) other times your worst enemy
(C) but | at | other times your worst enemy
(D) but | other times your worst enemy
(E) but | other times | it is | your worst enemy

How to choose the best of the lot? First, is but necessary? Believe it or not, no. The omission of a conjunction is known as asyndeton, and it shows up somewhat frequently when "time words" in particular are held in parallel. There is even an official SC question that tests the concept, a notorious question on Jean-Paul Sartre. (Have a look if you are curious or need proof.) Note that sometimes is an adverb; other times is not exactly adverbial, but other is modifying times, and other times is, in any case, present in all five answer choices, so we have to accept it as a parallel element referring to times in general. At first glance, (B) is the most concise and functional.

If you did not catch the little-known asyndeton, though, you should ask yourself whether at is necessary for the comparison: sometimes versus but at other times or but other times? At is not incorrect, but neither is it required. The conjunction but implies the at in the comparison: sometimes [this], but [at] other times [that]. On this consideration, (B), (D), and (E) are favored.

Finally, does it is need to be spelled out: other times it is your worst enemy or other times your worst enemy? Again, the longer version is not incorrect: it has a clear referent in the implement. But the shorter version works just as well: sometimes the implement [this], [but] other times [that]. That is, the lengthier iteration adds nothing in the way of clarity that the shorter one lacks, so we should favor (B), (C), and (D) on this consideration.

Altogether, the only answer choice that passes each trial is (B), so it is the one we should choose. Do I think the question would appear as is on the GMAT™? No, not at this time. But does that make it worthless tripe? Now it is my turn to be a naysayer. Perhaps any one of these points could appear in a question down the road, who knows?

I hope you enjoyed this one. As always, happy studies.

- Andrew
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(A) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy -> 'but', 'other times' -> redundant -> quoting other times suggests that contrast to the earlier statement is going to be mentioned further. Eliminate.

(B) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy -> Looks okay, not a fan of not unlike - double negative, but don't see any grammatical issue. Keep.

(C) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times your worst enemy -> same issue as A.

(D) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times your worst enemy -> same issue as A.

(E) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times it is your worst enemy -> same issue as A.

B can be made better, but in the given choices, it's the best available.
Ans. B.

My answer is (D). This is a super tricky question.

> "like playing" VS. "not unlike playing". I think either is ok. The former is more concise, but the latter cannot be deemed wordy even by GMAT standard.

> "at other times" VS. "other times". Based on https://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/azar/g ... /00036.htm,
(1) Other times can be used with or without the preposition at, often interchangeably.
(2) Other times seems a bit more descriptive of the event, while at other times focuses on noting the event in a time frame.
(3) It is important to consider parallelism with the first clause.
(3.1) When "sometimes" is used in the first clause, "other times" is preferred.
(3.2) When "at certain times" is used in the first clause, "at other times" is preferred.
In this sentence, "sometimes" is used in "sometimes the implement is your best friend", so it seems that we should pick "other times" rather than "at other times". Eliminate (A) and (C).

> "a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick" VS. "a bat, club, racket, or stick"
Based on https://english.stackexchange.com/quest ... hird-nouns, both are grammatical, but "omitting subsequent a's would lead to an unnatural-sounding variant."
So, it might be safer to stick with "a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick". Eliminate (E).

We still have to compare (B) with (D).
In (B), "sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy" should be equivalent with
"sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times the implement is your worst enemy".
There is a comma splice error.

In (D), on the other hand, the conjunction "but" fixes the very issue above. That is why (D) is probably the best answer choice.

OA : B

(A) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy
"but at" is not parallel with "sometimes"

(B) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy
Correct

(C) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times your worst enemy
"but at" is not parallel with "sometimes"

(D) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times your worst enemy
"but" and "other" both indicates opposition which makes it redundant

(E) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times it is your worst enemy
"but" and "other" both indicates opposition which makes it redundant

Ruled A, C and E – those did not have consistency in terms of articles in front of the named tools.
Then opted for B – I found the structure "sometimes X, but other times Y" less viable than "sometimes X, other times Y". I have never heard "but" used in this particular expression.

Painting a picture with a brush is like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy.

The split is like-not unlike, and both mean different.
Two ways to look at it -
1) Go with the original meaning.
2) Go with the meaning that suits best.
(2) should win over (1), so let us look at what fits in better.

1) LIKE shows a greater degree of similarity as against Not unlike.
Here I would feel 'not unlike' is slightly better.

2) But there should be some other flaws too.
When I look at whether x or y, I would look at similarity between x and y.
So, I would be more comfortable with whether a bat or a stick

3) Thirdly, But is for contrast, so I would prefer 'while' instead.

(A) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy
All 3 flaws as shown above.

(B) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy
Best possible. Maybe use of WHILE would make it better.

(C) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times your worst enemy
Flaw 2 and 3.

(D) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times your worst enemy
Flaw 1 and 3

(E) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times it is your worst enemy
All 3 flaws


B

Take two examples: “I like pizzas” vs “I don’t dislike pizzas”.
The first states that I actually like pizzas while the second says that I may or may not like pizzas. I simply don’t have any dislike towards the pizzas.

the same is true for “like” and “not unlike”.
The first means similar while the second means that they are not different.
In our case we probably need “like”, because in both painting and sports, the instruments you use have similar traits.
Moreover, there is no correct choice on the GMAT that has a structure “unlike verbing”.

“at other times” vs “other time”.
“at other times” refers to periods of time while “other times” refers to sequence, kind of “first time, I could lift it but other times I was unable”.
In our case we need the former.

“comma + but” can be followed both by a complete sentence or by a fragment parallel to something that preceded “but”
“comma + but” doesn’t always signal an independent clause and there are many such correct choices on the GMAT.
Keeping this in mind, let’s move further.

(A) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy

correct because it uses “but at other times”. Additionally, “like” correctly signifies similarity. Morover, “it is your” at the end eliminated a possible ambiguity present in C.

(B) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy

Incorrect because illogically uses “other time”. a conjunction “but” is missed, so we have a comma splice. “other times your worst enemy” may mean that “other times your worst enemy is your best friend”. Not the intended meaning.
There is no correct choice on the GMAT that has a structure “unlike verbing”.

(C) not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times your worst enemy

There is no correct choice on the GMAT that has a structure “unlike verbing”. “other times your worst enemy” may mean that “other times your worst enemy is your best friend”. Not the intended meaning.
take an easier example: “sometimes joy is your best motivator, but at other times pain”.
Possible interpretations:
1. sometimes joy is your best motivator, but at other times pain is your best motivator.
2. sometimes joy is your best motivator, but at other times joy is your pain.
Ambiguous

(D) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times your worst enemy

Incorrect because illogically used “other time”.
Has similar ambiguity as in C and D.

(E) like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times it is your worst enemy

Incorrect because illogically uses “other time”.

So A
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(A) Painting a picture with a brush is like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times it is your worst enemy - 'At other times' refers to time frame, 'but' along with 'at other times' is wrong grammar, here the usage is incorrect, Changes meaning - Eliminate

(B) Painting a picture with a brush is not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, other times your worst enemy - Clear Meaning, Correct

(C) Painting a picture with a brush is not unlike playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but at other times your worst enemy - 'At other times' refers to time frame, here the usage is incorrect, 'but' along with 'at other times' is wrong grammar, Changes meaning - Eliminate

(D) Painting a picture with a brush is like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, a club, a racket, or a stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times your worst enemy - 'Sometimes' with 'other times' shows contrast, 'but' is not required, Eliminate

(E) Painting a picture with a brush is like playing a sport with a tool of the trade—whether a bat, club, racket, or stick—sometimes the implement is your best friend, but other times it is your worst enemy - The usage of 'it' is incorrect here, Eliminate

Answer - B

Hello, zhanbo. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the above analysis, and I appreciate the references, so I awarded a kudos. The question may have pushed you just a little too much outside your comfort zone, but your step-by-step narrowing down of the answer choices is wonderful, worthy of recognition. Thank you for helping guide the community.

- Andrew
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Nice catch, insomnia. Indeed, this sort of whittling down of the answer pool is exactly the line of logic a test-taker can take to arrive at an accurate conclusion, no matter the difficulty of the question. Well done.

- Andrew
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An excellent breakdown of a quite difficult question, Gladiator. (Just make sure you do not turn your back.) Well done.

- Andrew
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Hello, JonShukhrat. I wanted to take a moment to address a few issues you brought up in your post.


Not dislike and not unlike are not quite so similar, although I like your sentence about the pizzas and agree with the point you made there. The statement at the end about "unlike verbing" sounds a little too one-note and mechanical, atypical of the analysis you more often provide on a given topic. I could easily see a sentence on comparisons, such as the following, appearing on the GMAT™ at some point:

Unlike rock climbing, running requires nothing more than a pair of shoes to get started.

Is the structure incorrect merely because we do not have a SC OA at hand to point to? Keep in mind, the test is always changing, and before a few years ago, tutors were teaching that possessive pronouns—e.g., her—could not refer to a possessive noun—in this case, say, Samantha's—simply because no official SC question had done so. Then, along came this Emily Dickinson question that forced tutors to revise their position (or continue spouting off incorrect advice).


I think either iteration of the sample sentence could work:

1) The first time, I could lift it, but other times, I was unable [to do so].
2) The first time, I could lift it, but at other times, I was unable [to do so].

It is not as if the second sentence is wrong, but the preposition is not strictly necessary to convey a similar meaning.


The sample sentence is different from the one in the question at hand:

1) Sometimes the implement is X, but at other times [the implement] is Y.
2) Sometimes joy is X, but at other times pain is X.

That said, if I were writing under time pressure during the competition, my thoughts would be far less cogent than what you have provided in your post. I appreciate your taking the time to back up your position.

- Andrew
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