Just like the famous words of Lincoln, who on the day of

Question

Just like the famous words of Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address, started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US to entrench his name in the annals of World History, started  his own famous “I have a dream speech” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, with similar such words as “five score years ago”.

A) Just like the famous words of Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address, started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US to entrench his name in the annals of World History, started

B) As Lincoln did on the day of the Gettysburg address, starting his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US entrenched his name in the annals of World History and started

C) Like Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address, started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US entrenched his name in the annals of World History, starting 
 
D)Like Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US to entrench his name in the annals of World History, started

E) In the same way as Lincoln did , who on the day of his Gettysburg Address, started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US to entrench his name in the annals of World History, starting

skovinsky · Answer

Have you accurately reproduced the answers? None of them are technically correct because of misplaced commas. Please check to make sure that you've included all the commas and they're in the right places. I'm going to move a comma around to make what appears as though it should be the correct choice actually correct. If the commas are reproduced exactly, then there is no correct answer (i.e. it's not a good practice question).

In fact, a number of the choices have comma issues - something that's rarely tested on the GMAT. What's the source?

In any case, here goes. If commas have been inaccurately reproduced, I reserve the right to change my answer!

Long, ugly sentence; so, we need to break it down into parts so as not to get overwhelmed.

We see the word "like" at the beginning and know that the sentence contains a comparison. We think: comparisons must be both grammatically and logically parallel. Let's scan the comparison options to quickly eliminate some choices:

Original sentence: "Just like the famous words...Martin Luther King Jr"...

Can we compare famous words to a person? NO - eliminate (A).

(B) "As Lincoln did, starting, ... Martin Luther King Jr... entrenched... and started..."

Comparing "starting" with "entrenched and started" makes no sense - we want to compare "started" with "started". Eliminate (B).

(C) "Like Lincoln, who... started, Martin Luther King Jr... entrenched".

Comparing "started" with "entrenched" makes no sense - we want to compare "started" with "started". Eliminate (C).

(D) "Like Lincoln, who... started, Martin Luther King Jr... started...".

Great - keep for now.

(E) "In the same way as Lincoln did"...

Already hate this one! Very awkward phrase, not at all concise. We already have a choice we like better - eliminate (E).

Only (D) survives - choose (D)!

To fix the comma issue, (D) should read:

OR

(the comma after "Address" creates a sentence fragment unless you also have a comma after "who").

Gonaives · Answer

I chose D.
Like => similarity

daagh · Answer

@Skovinsky: First of all, I stand corrected and thank you (+1) for the same. I am editing choice D with suitable amendments for future viewers.

This is my own creation and therefore there is no other source. My intention was no more than to compare the use of  like  versus  as  in a given context and shifts of focus in the meaning. I felt that in this forum, we are grinding the same old flour too often and that new examples should be tested. But let this not justify commission of mistakes, I admit. You not only have a right , but also have a duty to correct mistakes, whenever they happen, being from the Grand Old Kaplan.

As you have succinctly brought out the nuances among the various choices for the benefit of those who depend upon such expert advice, I deem my exercise has more than served its purpose.

I hope you can see my point

gettinit · Answer

nice question creation Daagh - kudos!

I selected D as well, and here is how:

A) Just like the famous words of Lincoln, .., Martin Luther King Jr.,

famous words compared to MLK - eliminate

B) As Lincoln did on the day of the Gettysburg address,... Martin Luther King Jr.,

again as is used in the first part but as cannot be used for second part because MLK is a noun

C) Like Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address, started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US entrenched his name in the annals of World History, starting

I eliminated this one but not for the like. I thought Like Lincoln - Martin was correct but it was the starting that was not correct - needs to be past tense started.

D)Like Lincoln, who on the day of his Gettysburg Address started his historic speech wih the monumental words “four score and seven years ago”, Martin Luther King Jr., another soul from the US to entrench his name in the annals of World History, started

This is the above sentence but with the correct "started" thus the answer

E) In the same way as Lincoln did ....Martin Luther King Jr.,

again MLK is not parallel with first part of the sentence.

tfincham86 · Answer

Tough question. But I got D based on process of elimination.

I had to break it down.

mailnavin1 · Answer

Great Q dude. Students under you should be lucky. I wish I were one

VerbalBot · Answer

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A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

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Just like the famous words of Lincoln, who on the day of

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