Last visit was: 20 Jul 2025, 11:37 It is currently 20 Jul 2025, 11:37
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
spriya
Joined: 17 Jun 2008
Last visit: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 617
Own Kudos:
3,030
 [166]
Posts: 617
Kudos: 3,030
 [166]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
154
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,348
 [72]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,348
 [72]
40
Kudos
Add Kudos
31
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
roshanaslam
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Last visit: 25 Mar 2020
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
153
 [26]
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: masters in finance
 Q50  V48
GPA: ok this is the sad part
Posts: 22
Kudos: 153
 [26]
17
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 20 Jul 2025
Posts: 5,145
Own Kudos:
4,729
 [5]
Given Kudos: 38
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,145
Kudos: 4,729
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
spriya
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at


Concepts tested here: Parallelism + Idioms + Redundancy/Awkwardness

• Any elements linked by a conjunction (“instead of”, “as opposed to, “in contrast with”, and “rather than” in this sentence) must be parallel.
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

A: Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “over a broad surface area” and “a series of regularly spaced points”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“instead of” in this sentence) must be parallel.

B: Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “over a broad surface area” and “a series of regularly spaced points”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“as opposed to” in this sentence) must be parallel.

C: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “over a broad surface area” and “a series of regularly spaced points”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“in contrast with” in this sentence) must be parallel.

D: Correct. This answer choice maintains parallelism between the prepositional phrases “over a broad surface area” and “at a series of regularly spaced points”. Further, Option D is free of awkwardness and redundancy.

E: This answer choice incorrectly utilizes the word “being”, leading to redundancy; “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of the passive continuous tense must be justified in context.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
General Discussion
User avatar
x2suresh
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 716
Own Kudos:
3,122
 [14]
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 716
Kudos: 3,122
 [14]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
spriya
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at


In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

instead of --used for replacement
I want coffe instead of tea .
rather than -- used to preference.



A)
= ...advantage of X over Y is that the contact.. is effected continously "over a broad surface" (O) instead of
"a series of regulary spaced points..." (S)
O and S are not parallel. also "instead of" is incorrec here.

D) ...advantage of X over Y is that the contact.. is effected continously "over a broad surface" (O) rather than
"at a series of regulary spaced points..." (S)
O and S are ll... and also rather than makes sense here.

correct me if i am wrong
User avatar
gmat1220
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Last visit: 17 Feb 2020
Posts: 466
Own Kudos:
963
 [3]
Given Kudos: 123
Status:Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing.
Affiliations: University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Products:
Posts: 466
Kudos: 963
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
E is out "being"
B is awkward out
C - "in contrast with" is used to compare like things. It is inappropriate in this context
A - instead of cannot be used to compare clauses

D remains.

Moreover the comparison is

bonding is effected continuously over a broad surface rather than at a series of regularly spaced points

whichscore
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact,
and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series
of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.
(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at
User avatar
b9n920
Joined: 02 Nov 2014
Last visit: 13 Sep 2016
Posts: 146
Own Kudos:
455
 [1]
Given Kudos: 75
GMAT Date: 08-04-2015
Products:
Posts: 146
Kudos: 455
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
whichscore
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact,
and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series
of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.
(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at

How to decide between instead of and rather than here??
I think the verb is effected makes it necessary to use rather than and not instead of.

Experts pls comment on that.
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,348
 [8]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,348
 [8]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
‘Instead of’ means ‘in the place of’. In contexts when we have a dilemma of choosing between one or the other 'rather than' is more befitting.

In metal work one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface in the place of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between

We can see how 'rather than' fits in better. I have hardly seen 'instead of' being approved by GMAT in such circumstances.
avatar
scottleey
Joined: 08 Jun 2014
Last visit: 17 May 2016
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 266
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think the point is:

The comparison of contact. Whether contact is continuous or at regularly spaced points. The meaning of the sentence is trying to point out contact done continuously is better than done regularly spaced.

For choices A, B, which sounds pretty reasonable at first glance, you reject them for not having at

Only D makes the meaning complete.

The sentence goes:
contact, blah blah blah, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series
of regularly spaced points
with no bonding

Compares contact effected continuously to a series of regularly spaced points. <--- This doesnt make any sense whether it is A, B or C.

Not sure if I am putting my point across correctly.
User avatar
sayantanc2k
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,395
Own Kudos:
15,468
 [4]
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,395
Kudos: 15,468
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
scottleey
I think the point is:

The comparison of contact. Whether contact is continuous or at regularly spaced points. The meaning of the sentence is trying to point out contact done continuously is better than done regularly spaced.

For choices A, B, which sounds pretty reasonable at first glance, you reject them for not having at

Only D makes the meaning complete.

The sentence goes:
contact, blah blah blah, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series
of regularly spaced points
with no bonding

Compares contact effected continuously to a series of regularly spaced points. <--- This doesnt make any sense whether it is A, B or C.

Not sure if I am putting my point across correctly.

Yes, I agree with your view. I would just like to try to put it across a bit more clearly, if I can.

The comparison markers here are
X instead of Y
X rather than Y

The comparison is between the two processes by which "the contact is effected":

Process 1 (X): The contact is effected continuously over a broad surface.
Process 2 (Y): The contact is effected at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

Hence the compared elements are continuously over a broad surface and at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

Moreover, the usage of "instead of" is restricted to nouns only, whereas "rather than" is more versatile and can be used for comparing not just nouns, nut also other elements such as participles, phrases etc. Hence "rather than" is the correct choice here.

The correct answer is D, which takes care of both the above issues.
User avatar
tamal99
Joined: 01 Jan 2018
Last visit: 25 Jun 2021
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 445
Location: India
Schools: IIM (II)
GMAT 1: 640 Q46 V32
GPA: 3.84
Schools: IIM (II)
GMAT 1: 640 Q46 V32
Posts: 124
Kudos: 162
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

daagh sir,
I am not able to understand the structure of the highlighted portion of the sentence, could you please help me to understand that.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Tamal
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,348
 [1]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,348
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
"hence the bonding" is an appositive modifier of the contact since the bonding or adhesion is the effect of the contact. "hence" makes this point clear and we should take them as one unit rather than as two different phenomena.
User avatar
krishsaisree
Joined: 19 May 2014
Last visit: 12 Nov 2023
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
10
 [3]
Given Kudos: 109
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I got this answer wrong initially, but I'm trying hard to use GMATNinja 's theory of going literal to understand this better:

- instead of and rather than are preferred idioms
- amongst these two, here's how i got to the right answer:

In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.
--> Makes it look like the contacts are effected instead of the regularly spaced points. But the intent is to show the comparison at the points where the welding effects are seen, so needs a "at"


rather than at --> in option D fixes it

Kudos if you feel content with the reply
User avatar
sajalgargciv2805
Joined: 23 May 2019
Last visit: 20 Jul 2021
Posts: 14
Own Kudos:
30
 [3]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: India
Schools: ISB'22 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V37
Schools: ISB'22 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V37
Posts: 14
Kudos: 30
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This question focuses mainly on the difference between "Instead of" vs "Rather than"
Instead of: It only takes noun as an object and can only put nouns in parallel.
Rather than: It can take either a noun or a clause as its object. It can put nouns, pronouns or entire actions in parallel.
Hence D is correct answer choice
User avatar
Hovkial
Joined: 23 Apr 2019
Last visit: 24 Nov 2022
Posts: 803
Own Kudos:
2,306
 [3]
Given Kudos: 202
Status:PhD trained. Education research, management.
Posts: 803
Kudos: 2,306
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
OFFICIAL GMAT EXPLANATION

The corrected sentence must contrast an effect of spot-welding with an effect of adhesive-bonding. To do so logically and grammatically, it must describe the effects in parallel terms. When inserted into the sentence, D produces the parallel construction over a broad surface rather than at a series. Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series. In E, as against being is a wordy and unidiomatic way to establish the intended contrast. Choice D is best.
avatar
Chitra657
Joined: 18 May 2021
Last visit: 15 Mar 2022
Posts: 42
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 51
Posts: 42
Kudos: 7
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
spriya
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at


The corrected sentence must contrast an effect of spot-welding with an effect of adhesive-bonding.

To do so logically and grammatically, it must describe the effects in parallel terms.

When inserted into the sentence, D produces the parallel construction over a broad surface rather than at a series.

Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series.

In E, as against being is a wordy and unidiomatic way to establish the intended contrast.

Choice D is best.

https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/08/business/business-technology-advances.html

An additional advantage of adhesive bonding over spot welding is that the contact is continuous, spreading the strength over a broad surface rather than at a series of joined points with no strength in between. While common adhesive tape requires a force of only about five pounds per square inch to detach it from a surface, some structural adhesives in use can withstand forces of up to 3,000 pounds per square inch. This compares with about 700 pounds per square inch for spot welds.

VeritasKarishma GMATNinja egmat experts pls help

Why can't A be right?
I interpreted it this way:

is effected continuously over
1) "a broad surface"
instead of
2) "a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between"

Essentially, is effected over X instead of Y
In this manner both A and D fit well for me. Where did I go wrong?
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 20 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,115
Own Kudos:
74,432
 [3]
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,115
Kudos: 74,432
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Chitra657
spriya
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at


The corrected sentence must contrast an effect of spot-welding with an effect of adhesive-bonding.

To do so logically and grammatically, it must describe the effects in parallel terms.

When inserted into the sentence, D produces the parallel construction over a broad surface rather than at a series.

Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series.

In E, as against being is a wordy and unidiomatic way to establish the intended contrast.

Choice D is best.

https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/08/business/business-technology-advances.html

An additional advantage of adhesive bonding over spot welding is that the contact is continuous, spreading the strength over a broad surface rather than at a series of joined points with no strength in between. While common adhesive tape requires a force of only about five pounds per square inch to detach it from a surface, some structural adhesives in use can withstand forces of up to 3,000 pounds per square inch. This compares with about 700 pounds per square inch for spot welds.

VeritasKarishma GMATNinja egmat experts pls help

Why can't A be right?
I interpreted it this way:

is effected continuously over
1) "a broad surface"
instead of
2) "a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between"

Essentially, is effected over X instead of Y
In this manner both A and D fit well for me. Where did I go wrong?

This is not correct. The sentence should work with both elements.

...is effected continuously over a broad surface... - this is ok
...is effected continuously over a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between... - this is not ok. The contact is not continuous. It is at spaced points.

Hence, the parallel elements must be:

is effected
1) "continuously over a broad surface"
2) "at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between"

Now it is correct.
...is effected continuously over a broad surface... - ok
...is effected at a series of regularly spaced points... - ok
User avatar
NarayanaGupta007
Joined: 21 Aug 2021
Last visit: 20 Nov 2024
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 51
Posts: 74
Kudos: 35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
spriya
In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at


The corrected sentence must contrast an effect of spot-welding with an effect of adhesive-bonding.

To do so logically and grammatically, it must describe the effects in parallel terms.

When inserted into the sentence, D produces the parallel construction over a broad surface rather than at a series.

Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series.

In E, as against being is a wordy and unidiomatic way to establish the intended contrast.

Choice D is best.

https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/08/business/business-technology-advances.html

An additional advantage of adhesive bonding over spot welding is that the contact is continuous, spreading the strength over a broad surface rather than at a series of joined points with no strength in between. While common adhesive tape requires a force of only about five pounds per square inch to detach it from a surface, some structural adhesives in use can withstand forces of up to 3,000 pounds per square inch. This compares with about 700 pounds per square inch for spot welds.

30 Seconds ans
rather than is preffered over instead of so A out
as opposed to means absence of second element thats not the case ..we are comparing so B out
in contrast with is used to differentiate we are talking about similarity of 1 feature...not appropriate so C out
being is not preffered on GMAT so E out (you can use being in starting of sentence on GMAT)

D is the answere
User avatar
BrightOutlookJenn
Joined: 29 Dec 2013
Last visit: 15 Jul 2025
Posts: 106
Own Kudos:
503
 [2]
Given Kudos: 18
GMAT 1: 770 Q48 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 770 Q48 V51
Posts: 106
Kudos: 503
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A student asked me for an explanation of this one, so I'm posting it here to serve everyone.

His question: "This is the type of question that gives me the most trouble. No other tips to look for, just one issue to solve. Any tips on how to approach such question?"

Here's my response: We have to find the decision point. “Instead of” and “as opposed to” are 99% interchangeable, so there is no way to choose one over the other, and therefore neither of them could be the answer.

So there must be something else we need here, not just the logical opposition. And it turns out this is a structural parallelism issue! You could think of this as an X and Y parallelism question, like Correlative Constructions (not only X but also Y, where X and Y must be parallel). OK, so what are we comparing?

(Think about this for yourself before you read on - you may see it)

We are comparing the two places that bonding happens :
X: over a broad surface
Y: a series of regularly spaced points …

Are X and Y parallel? Not really. In Y, we need a word like “over” - a preposition.

You can hear it clearly if you read this as two different sentences:
Bonding happens over a broad surface ✅
Bonding happens a series of regularly spaced points 👎

We need the “at” proposed in D and E. And E is a wordy mess, so D is our winner.

This is definitely tough, because they aren't the SAME preposition. But looking at it from a structural perspective shows us what is missing.

Hope this helps! Let me know.
User avatar
kavishek
Joined: 04 Apr 2022
Last visit: 28 Aug 2023
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 40
Posts: 4
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB - Logically 1 & 2 are parallel but am not able to understand how grammatically they are parallel , i.e 1st -Continuously is an adverb and 2nd part i.e at a....- is a prepositional phrase.

is effected
1) "continuously over a broad surface"
2) "at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between

Request you to explain.
 1   2   
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7359 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts