imSKR wrote:
Quote:
In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as did its return in 1910-1911.
(A) did its return in 1910-1911
(D) its return of 1910-1911 did
Why the meaning of sentence as below is wrong as i get in option A?
Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation In no other historical sighting
as
its return caused sensation in 1910-11
Meaning:
Halley's comet cause a worldwide sensation in 1705, in 1835
but comet was returned in 1910-11 and that caused much sensation.
Shall i say that meaning is wrong because with A , meaning implies these 2 bodies: Halley's comet and its return body ( but actually it is same )
Please confirm
GMATNinja AndrewN AjiteshArunHello,
imSKR. The issue is one of comparison, since
as is being used in that capacity in the sentence. Remember, the GMAT™ is quite strict, downright Draconian, about comparisons and ensuring that like is compared with like. In the non-underlined portion of the sentence, we already encounter our verb
did, so we do not need to use it again. We simply need to focus on what is being compared, and that information comes before
did:
(A)
In no other historical sighting did [something happen] as
did its return in 1910-1911.
(D)
In no other historical sighting did [something happen] as
its return of 1910-1911 did.
Meanwhile, notice that the correct answer appropriately compares the
in phrase:
(C)
In no other historical sighting did [something happen] as
in its return of 1910-1911.
The option also avoids the needless repetition of
did. That is, even if you rearrange (A) to better fit the comparison, you still get
... did [something happen] as in its 1910-1911 return did.If nothing else, I hope the question serves as a check against going by the sound of the sentence. I could see many people saying (A) or (D), but on a grammar test as nuanced as the GMAT™, you have to have a more compelling reason to get behind an answer choice, and both (A) and (D) fail to draw a proper comparison while also incorporating an extraneous element in
did.
I hope that helps. I wanted to reply earlier, but the timing just did not work out with my schedule.
- Andrew
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