In addition to having more protein than wheat does, the protein in ric

Question

In addition to having more protein than wheat does, the protein in rice is higher quality than that in wheat, with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.

(A) the protein in rice is higher quality than that in

(B) rice has protein of higher quality than that in

(C) the protein in rice is higher in quality than it is in

(D) rice protein is higher in quality than it is in

(E) rice has a protein higher in quality than

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Food Proteins: Properties and Characterization
By Shuryo Nakai

In this sentence, the initial clause modifies the nearest noun, identifying it as the thing being compared to wheat. By making protein the noun modified, choices A, C, and D illogically compare wheat with protein and claim that the protein in rice has more protein than wheat does.

In C and D, the comparative structure higher in quality than it is in wheat absurdly suggests that rice protein contains wheat.

B, the best choice, logically compares wheat to rice by placing the noun rice immediately after the initial clause.

B also uses that to refer to protein in making the comparison between the proteins of rice and wheat.

Choice E needs either that in or does after wheat to make a complete and logical comparison.

Attachment:

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The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition, 2003

Practice Question
Question No.: SC 19
Page: 656

sayantanc2k · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your effort to explain the comparison issue - but the explanation has a bit of flaw - be cautious of the following trap:
It is acceptable to omit repeated words from the second element of a parallel structure, IF the meaning is not obscured.
I like chocolates more than Madhu. ...... Wrong - ambiguous
The above sentence may have 2 meanings:
1. I like chocolates. Madhu likes chocolates. But I like chocolates more than Madhu does.
2. I like chocolates. I like Madhu. But I like chocolates more than I like Madhu.

So here the omission is NOT allowed. The correct sentence would be:
EITHER
I like chocolates more than Madhu  does .
OR
I like chocolates more than  I like  Madhu.

Now compare with the following:
Rice has more protein than wheat.... correct - not ambiguous
The above sentence CANNOT have 2 meanings as before:
1. Rice has proteins. Wheat has proteins. But rice has more proteins than wheat does... OK.
2. Rice has proteins. Rice has wheat. But rice has more proteins than rice has wheat.. this usage does not make sense.

Hence out of the possible two meanings:
1. Rice has more proteins than wheat (does).
2. Rice has more proteins than (rice has) wheat.
, the second one does not make sense. Hence in this case omission is acceptable.

Thus the only reason that one can eliminate E is the usage of "a protein". You cannot really eliminate E on the basis of parallelism.

Technext · Answer

In addition to having more protein - than wheat does,  the protein in rice is higher quality than that in  wheat, with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.

Explanation :
Here the phrase ‘ In addition to ’ modifies ' rice ' so, we can do away with options A, C & D.
--------------------------------
( A ) the protein in rice is higher quality than that in --–> Discard it. Reason explained above.

( B ) rice has protein of higher quality than that in ---> Correct.

( C ) the protein in rice is higher in quality than it is in --–> Discard it. Reason explained above.

( D ) rice protein is higher in quality than it is in --–> Discard it. Reason explained above.

( E ) rice has a protein higher in quality than ---> Compares  a protein  with  wheat , which is not the intended meaning of the original sentence.  The original sentence intends to compare protein in rice with protein in wheat .  Also, use of 'a' before 'protein' again changes the original meaning of the sentence . So, discard it.
--------------------------------

My choice is option  B .

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Technext

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

The first part of this sentence sets up a comparison.

When we get to the  comma , we should  STOP and ask the question that the introduction raises .

So, once we read,  In addition to having more protein than wheat does ,   we should stop and ask . . .

"Who or what has more protein than wheat does?"

If the sentence is properly constructed, the part that immediately follows the comma will answer that question in a logical manner.

Reading on we get...

A) the protein in rice...
What? The protein (in rice) has more protein that wheat does? 
Makes no sense. 
ELIMINATE A

B) rice ....
So rice has more protein that wheat does.
This makes sense. 
KEEP B

C) the protein in rice...
The protein (in rice) has more protein that wheat does? 
Makes no sense. 
ELIMINATE C

D) rice protein...
Rice protein has more protein that wheat does? 
Makes no sense. 
ELIMINATE D

E) rice ....
So rice has more protein that wheat does.
This makes sense. 
KEEP E

We're down to B and E
B) rice has protein of higher quality than  that  in
The word  that  properly serves as a placeholder for  protein 
In other words, rice has protein of higher quality than  the protein  in wheat...
PERFECT!

E) rice has a protein higher in quality than wheat
This is a faulty comparison
It suggests that rice PROTEIN is better than WHEAT. 
The intended meaning is that rice PROTEIN is better than wheat PROTEIN.
ELIMINATE E

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to getting this question correct; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the protein found in rice is higher in quantity as well as quality than the protein found in wheat is.

Concepts tested here: Comparison + Meaning

• Comparison must always be made between similar elements.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly compares “the protein in rice to “wheat", illogically implying that the protein in rice has more protein than wheat does; the intended meaning is that the protein found in rice is higher in quantity than the protein found in wheat is; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.

B:   Correct.  This answer choice correctly compares "rice" with "wheat", conveying the intended meaning - that the protein in rice is higher in quantity than the protein in wheat is. Further, Option B uses the phrase "than that in", conveying the intended meaning - that the protein in rice is higher in quality than the protein in wheat is.

C:  This answer choice incorrectly compares “the protein in rice" to “wheat", illogically implying that the protein in rice has more protein than wheat does; the intended meaning is that the protein found in rice is higher in quantity than the protein found in wheat is; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Moreover, Option C further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "than it is in"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the protein in rice is higher in quality than the same protein is when it is in wheat; the intended meaning is that the protein in rice is higher in quality than the protein in wheat is.

D:  This answer choice incorrectly compares “rice protein" to “wheat", illogically implying that the protein in rice has more protein than wheat does; the intended meaning is that the protein found in rice is higher in quantity than the protein found in wheat is; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Moreover, Option D further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "than it is in"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the protein in rice is higher in quality than the same protein is when it is in wheat; the intended meaning is that the protein in rice is higher in quality than the protein in wheat is.

E:  Trap. This answer choice incorrectly compares "a protein" to "wheat", illogically implying that a   particular   protein found in rice is higher in quality than wheat   as a whole    is; the intended meaning is the specific protein found in rice is higher in quality than the specific protein found in wheat is; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Two things  to keep in mind are:
 a) What is the opening phrase modifying?
b) What are the two things being compared?
 
The answer to the first question can help us eliminate at least 2 answer choices in this question.

The  subject  here is ‘ rice ,’ and it should come immediately after the comma.

We can eliminate the following options for having the wrong subject:

Option A  –  the protein 
 Option C  –  the protein 
 Option D  –  rice protein

Between  Options B  and  E , it is not a struggle to decide.

Here is why: E says ‘a protein’ which is incorrect.

Eliminate   Option E .

Option B  is the best choice.

Hope this helps!

akshathbs · Answer

This is a standard GMAT question -
In addition to having more protein -than wheat does,   the protein  in rice is higher quality than that in  wheat,with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.

comparison is b/w WHEAT and the thing in red!

so eliminate- A,C,D because RICE has to be compared with Wheat not the PROTEIN OR RICE PROTEIN!

B/W B AND E

eliminate E because -"rice has  a protein higher in quality  than  wheat 
incorrect comparison ..!

GMATPill · Answer

Here's how to do this in < 30 seconds

Step 1)   On basis of Apples Vs Oranges framework, note you are comparing "wheat" with whatever is after the comma. 
The only two that make sense is (B) and (E) - because they each mention RICE as the subject.

Step 2)   For (E) - "rice has a protein higher in quality than wheat" - it's missing "does" at the end.

Only (B) - " rice has protein of higher quality than that in wheat" makes sense.

You are comparing the protein of rice vs that   in wheat.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

Zarrolou · Answer

This part is an initial modifier

In addition to having more protein than wheat does,   ---- it refers to the next noun.
If you put the word "protein" right after it, you are saying that  "the protein  "  <--this is not correct : it's logically flawed.

Who/what has more protein than wheat ?  the rice . Hence the word rice should follow that modifier.

Hope it's clear

rakaisraka · Answer

Hi Experts, can you please explain why E is wrong - To me it seems like rice has a protein higher in qality than wheat has. What is wrong.
Also, in B - I dont think its correct. rice has proein of higher quality than THAT - what THAT refers to.?

sayantanc2k · Answer

Both your questions are in fact related: The comparison must between the protein in rice and the protein in wheat.

In B, the pronoun "that" is used to refer to protein (creating a new copy of the antecedent - a typical use of "that": see below*).

In E, the comparison is between protein (in rice) and wheat. (If the word "has" were there, the comparison would be alright. But without "has", the comparison becomes problematic.)

(*Use of "that" to create new copy: The car I have is bigger than that you have.)

godot53 · Answer

Hi adkikani E is comparing Protein with Wheat. Here's the comparison, rice has a protein higher in quality than Wheat . Hence, its an incorrect comparison. With the insertion of "that" as in B, the comparison becomes correct, rice has protein of higher quality than that in wheat. Also note that, in most cases, there will be more than one split. In E, "a protein" is also incorrect. Another reason to eliminate E. Cheers !! :-D

Mo2men · Answer

Dear Brent,

If there were not any introductory modifier (In addition to having more protein than wheat does), does the comparison in choice A correct?

Thanks in advance for your help

AjiteshArun · Answer

The comparison itself would be correct, but "is of higher quality" sounds better than "is higher quality".

Skywalker18 · Answer

1. As stated by  sayantanc2k  in the above post, so there is no meaning ambiguity in option E? So, we can't eliminate E on the basis of parallelism?
2. the only reason that one can eliminate E is the usage of "a protein"?

AjiteshArun  ,  GMATNinja  ,  MagooshExpert  ,  GMATGuruNY  ,  VeritasPrepBrian  ,  MartyTargetTestPrep  ,  DmitryFarber  ,  VeritasKarishma  ,  generis  ,  jennpt  , other experts - please enlighten

KarishmaB · Answer

The comparison in (E) is ambiguous.

"... rice has a protein higher in quality than wheat,..."

We could be comparing the protein qualities of rice and wheat.
or
We could be comparing the quality of rice protein with the quality of wheat.

Both are logical comparisons. 
I would not accept this option even if we did not have "a protein". We do have a much better construction in (B).

kornn · Answer

Dear  GMATGuruNY   AjiteshArun   MartyTargetTestPrep ,

Why is E. wrong?

Why isn't "does/has" understood behind "wheat"?

Rice has a protein higher in quality than wheat (does/has)  is incorrect?

Also, it clearly illogical to read E. as  rice has a protein higher in quality than rice has wheat

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  varotkorn ,

To address the broader issue here: while meaning is definitely tested in SC questions, we cannot say that to read something a particular way is illogical and therefore it  cannot  be read that way. That is just not how language (especially English) works, and it is not how GMAT verbal works. In this case, what we must ask ourselves is not whether E is  possible , but whether it is the  best  (of the 5). That is, is there another option that is free of other errors and is less open to misinterpretation than E is?

I addressed a similar question  here . The takeaway is that very few things in verbal are "absolute" ("absolute" in the sense that they will always be applied the same way in every, or almost every, possible situation).

GMATGuruNY · Answer

An ER-adjective is called  a comparative .

SUBJECT + VERB + COMPARATIVE + OBJECT
Generally, this structure is appropriate when the intent is to compare the SUBJECT to another subject:
 JOHN has a larger house than MARY. 
Implied comparison:
 John has a larger house than Mary  .

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + COMPARATIVE
Generally, this structure is appropriate when the intent is to compare the OBJECT to another noun:
 John has A HOUSE larger than Mary's. 
Implied comparison:
 John has a house   larger than Mary's

In E, the comparative appears AFTER the object.
E:  Rice has a protein higher in quality than wheat .
Since this structure typically serves to compare the OBJECT to another noun, the following comparison seems to be implied:
 Rice has a protein   higher in quality than wheat   .
Not the intended comparison.

The intention is compare one PROTEIN to another PROTEIN, as in the OA:
 Rice has PROTEIN of higher quality than THAT in wheat. 
Implied comparison: 
 Rice has PROTEIN   of higher quality than THE PROTEIN in wheat  .

gmatassassin88 · Answer

AjiteshArun   VeritasKarishma   AnthonyRitz

i am still unsure about the correct reference of 'THAT' in option B.

As per my understanding,grammatically 'that' refers to 'Protein' mentioned in the introductory phrase i.e ' In addition to having more  protein  than wheat does '& not to the Protein in the main clause i.e rice has  protein  of higher quality

is my understanding w.r.t pronoun reference correct

In addition to having more protein than wheat does, the protein in ric

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

In addition to having more protein than wheat does, the protein in ric

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