In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorptio

Question

In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption , a large expanse of snow and ice reflects incoming radiation into space.

(A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat

(E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat

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Verbal Review 2020 NEW QUESTION

AshutoshB · Accepted Answer

IMHO E 
A) In contrast with a dark surface   and its tendency   toward heat absorption

B) Contrasted with a   dark surface’s tendency   to absorb heat-   WRONG COMPARSION Tendency is compared to SNOW

C)   Since it   is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat-  Wrong Usage of since

D)   Contrasted to the tendency   of a dark surface to absorb heat   WRONG COMPARSION Tendency is compared to SNOW

E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat   CORRECT

anothermillenial · Answer

In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption, a large expanse of snow and ice reflects incoming radiation into space.

(A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption

-"In contrast with/ In contrast to- Both are correct
-Here sentence wants to convey contrast in tendency of dark surfaces and snow
-But sentence here instead treats ""dark surface"" and "" its tendency towards absorption ""as two different entity . Which does not convey intended meaning."
So Eliminate A

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat

Contrast wrongly "dark surface's tendency" to " large expanse of snow. Sentence originally intends to convey contrast between tendency of dark surface and tendency of snow

So eliminate B

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat

-"it" reference is ambiguous. It is not clear what "it" is referring to.
- Same error as in option A- sentence here instead treats ""dark surface"" and "" its tendency towards absorbtion ""as two different entity . Which does not convey intended meaning."

So eliminate C

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat

-Again Tendency of dark surface is contrasted with large expanse of snow - which does not convey intended meaning"

So eliminate D

(E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat

Correct
Correctly presents contrasts between dark surface to snow and ice.
Note : which refers correctly to dark surface.

Ans E

ArtVandaley · Answer

daagh , Can you explain why E is correct? I thought tendency is compared here.

MSIMBA · Answer

thangvietnam · Answer

look at choice B and D.
"contrasted with/to..." is do-ed phrase, which works as adverb of the main clause. the meaning relation of do-ed phrase with the main clause can be of many kinds. the cause of the main clause can be expressed by "do-ed phrase".

tired by hard work, I take a rest.

in choice B and D, we can not see any meaning relation between the do-ed phrase and the main clause. this is wrong

the second error in B and D is that "expanse of snow" cannot be contrasted with "tendency". "dark surface" can be contrasted with "expanse of snow" logically. 
this error happens in choice B , D , A and C.

Gmat20201 · Answer

In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption, a large expanse of snow and ice reflects incoming radiation into space.

(A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption

- "In contrast with/ In contrast to- Both are correct
-Here sentence wants to convey contrast in tendency of dark surfaces and snow 
-But sentence here instead treats ""dark surface"" and "" its tendency towards absorption ""as two different entity . Which does not convey intended meaning."
So Eliminate A

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat

Contrast wrongly "dark surface's tendency" to " large expanse of snow. Sentence originally intends to convey contrast between tendency of dark surface and tendency of snow
 
So eliminate B

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat

- "it" reference is ambiguous. It is not clear what "it" is referring to.
- Same error as in option A- sentence here instead treats ""dark surface"" and "" its tendency towards absorbtion ""as two different entity . Which does not convey intended meaning."
 
So eliminate C

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat

- Again Tendency of dark surface is contrasted with large expanse of snow - which does not convey intended meaning"
 
So eliminate D

(E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat

Correct
Correctly presents contrasts between dark surface to snow and ice.
Note : which refers correctly to dark surface.
 
Ans E

LeenaSai · Answer

Answer E

First analyse the logical meaning .
 In contrast with .......... , a large expanse (of snow and ice ) reflects ....

The 2nd part of the statement is doing an action.

Because , we have — “in contrast “ word used here — this denotes there must be a comparison sort of thing .

And , most important point to keep in mind is : comparison is made between similar things .

Therefore , 1st part of statement should also perform some action

2nd observation : Idiom

Contrast to —- used for Noun
Contrast with — used for Verb (action)

A) just telling the feature of dark surface 
B) contrasted with -idiomatically incorrect 
C ) since , It —- what’s it used for ?
D) contrasted to — idiom issue 
E) correct

Hope this helps

Posted from my mobile device

LIBERTYRodP · Answer

COMPARISON, PARALLELISM

(A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption  ------- Wrong parallelism using the conjunction "and".. "dark surface" and "tendency" are not logically parallel.

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat  -------- Wrong comparison. "tendency" should not be compared to "expanse of snow".

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat   ------- Incorrect use of pronoun "it". Referent is not clear.

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat  --------- Wrong comparison. "tendency" should not be compared to "expanse of snow".

(E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat   -------- CORRECT

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Let’s see how we can get to the right answer without taking a lot of time looking at each option.

Now, read the first part of the question – it is trying to set up contrast, but it fails. Why does it fail? Because on the GMAT, the preferred idiom is ‘ in contrast to’ .

When we understand this much, we understand the intent of the original sentence; we get a sense of where it is going.

I quickly scan the options and see that Option E is the only option with the preferred idiom.

Option E is the best choice here.

But, just to be safe, let’s go back to the other options.

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat

The item that is contrasted here is incorrect. The contrast is not between ‘tendency’ and ‘snow’.  Eliminate.

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat

Since what is in contrast? Too many ambiguous ‘its’ in this option. Eliminate.

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat

Just as in B, the wrong things are contrasted here. Eliminate.

Option E is the best choice. 
 
Hope this helps!

mba757 · Answer

In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption , a large expanse of snow and ice reflects incoming radiation into space.

(A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption
 (1) meaning error: this almost sounds like the large expanse of snow has the tendency to absorb heat…

(B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat
 (1) illogical comparison: compares “tendency” (more specifically, “a dark surface’s tendency”) with “a large expanse of snow and ice”

(C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat
 (1) meaning error: similar to CR, this seems to give an illogical premise/conclusion structure (since X, therefore Y); (2) meaning error 2: this almost sounds like the large expanse of snow has the tendency to absorb heat…

(D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat
 (1) illogical comparison: compares “tendency” with “a large expanse of snow and ice”

(E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat
  Best option

MHIKER · Answer

In contrast with is correct when "contrast'' is used a verb. If "contrast'' is followed by a noun then the correct preposition after contrast is "to". So, here the correct idiom is "in contrast to". A and B are canceled out. C contains "it" with ambiguous pronoun referent. For D-when contrast is used it should be followed by "with" rather "to".

The correct answer is E.

ankur2510 · Answer

In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption , a large expanse of snow and ice reflects incoming radiation into space.

There are two important things that should be taken care in this sentence.
1) The non underline part shows the present tense (snow and ice "reflects"), so the underlined part should be parallel to this.
2) The comparison should be logical. You cant compare tendency with snow and ice and vice versa.

The best option that comes out is option E.
E) In  contrast  to a dark surface, which  tends  to  absorb  heat.

Hope this helps.

naveeng15 · Answer

A) In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorption

B) Contrasted with a dark surface’s tendency to absorb heat- WRONG COMPARSION Tendency is compared to SNOW

C) Since it is in contrast to a dark surface and its tendency to absorb heat- Wrong Usage of since

D) Contrasted to the tendency of a dark surface to absorb heat WRONG COMPARSION Tendency is compared to SNOW

E) In contrast to a dark surface, which tends to absorb heat CORRECT

BLTN · Answer

Dear  AjiteshArun ,
could you elaborate the option E, and what is the precise error in A ?
if we compare how the surface absorbs and reflects the radiation, then why the modifier in E is nonessential rather than essential such as "that"?

Thanks beforehand.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  BLTN ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, Option A incorrectly compares  both  "a dark surface"  and  the surface's "tendency toward heat absorption" to "a large expanse of snow and ice"; the former is logical, but the latter is not; remember, comparison can only be made between similar things.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

woohoo921 · Answer

Hi experts,

I thought that the correct idiom was "In contrast to X, Y" with the Y element appearing directly after the comma.

I see that E is correct answer choice, so you must be allowed to add modifiers between the elements?

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In contrast with a dark surface and its tendency toward heat absorptio

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