Like the 1890s Populists who exalted the rural myth, so urban leaders

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that in the same way that the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth, urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Comparisons + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that were ongoing over a period of time in the past.
• Comparisons must always be made between similar things.
• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

A:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly compares the noun "1890s Populists" to the clause "urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify"; remember, comparisons must always be made between similar things.

B: Correct.
1/ This answer choice uses the phrase "Just as...so", conveying the intended meaning - that in the same way that the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth, urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth.
2/ Option B correctly uses the simple past tense verb "exalted" to refer to an action that concluded in the past.
3/ Option B correctly uses "as" to compare the clauses "the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth" and "urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth".
4/ Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C:
1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "having exalted the rural myth"; the construction of this phrase produces an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that in the same way that the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth, urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth.

D:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses "like" to compare the clauses "the rural myth was exalted" and "urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify"; remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
2/ Option D uses the passive voice construction "the rural myth was exalted", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E:
1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and so"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that because the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth, urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth; the intended meaning is that in the same way that the Populists of the 1890s exalted the rural myth, urban leaders of the 1990s are trying to glorify the urban myth.
2/ Option E incorrectly uses the simple past continuous tense verb "were exalting" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that were ongoing over a period of time in the past.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



To understand the concept of "Like" versus "As" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):

[you-tube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EdZvkt-QNf4[/you-tube]

All the best!
Experts' Global Team