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mn2010
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean Updated on: 30 Mar 2017, 10:26
Originally posted by mn2010 on 22 Feb 2011, 13:37.
Last edited by mikemcgarry on 30 Mar 2017, 10:26, edited 1 time in total.
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

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46% (01:43) correct 54% (01:56) wrong based on 739 sessions

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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean societies, civilizations in which people feel a need to reconcile the imperfections of the world with a "perfect" divinity, develop are more likely to result in religious adherence than are those that non-theodicean societies develop.

(A) are those that non-theodicean societies develop
(B) what non-theodicean societies develop
(C) non-theodicean societies' development would
(D) non-theodicean societies' traditions do
(E) traditions of non-theodicean societies

Am confused between 2 answer choices. please explain your answers as well.
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daagh
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 22 Feb 2011, 23:17
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In this tricky question on comparison, one needs to fix the two arms of comparison first.
Is it between theodicean societies and the non-theodicean societies? No
Is it between the traditions of theodicean societies and the traditions of non-theodicean societies? No again

Look at the wordings carefully. “are more likely” to result in religious adherence “than are” those that non-theodicean societies develop”. Here those stands for the traditions. The essence of the text is that the comparison lies between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in with what the non theodicean are likely to result in. The phrase ‘likely to result in’ is elliptical in the second arm. That is the reason we do require the verb ’are’ in the second arm to make the comparison parallel. Hence A is the choice.

In B C D and E the comparisons are wrongly done between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in on one side and various other dissimilar things such traditions themselves, and what the non-theodicean societies' development would etc on the other side.

Though disguised in ellipsis, the comparison remains logical in only A
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 22 Feb 2011, 17:52
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Check out the discussion here. LMK if you still have questions.
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 22 Jun 2011, 09:32
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Great question this!

Seemingly easy comparison question at first glance...but the choice between A and E is a bit tricky.

The verb "are" is a bit distracting in choice A...but nicely placed to make everyone think!

Under the pressure of the real gmat -- it's not too hard to see a lot of people falling for the trap answer E (also happens to be the most concise)...
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 24 Aug 2011, 04:21
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A .. all the way

traditions (that theo societies develop) ARE more likely to result .. than ARE those (that nontheo societies develop)
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 27 Feb 2019, 01:39
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The comparison in this sentence is supposed to be between the likely results for theodicean and non-theodicean societies. A is the only option that does this, so the answer is A.
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 17 Jul 2019, 18:28
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daagh
In this tricky question on comparison, one needs to fix the two arms of comparison first.
Is it between theodicean societies and the non-theodicean societies? No
Is it between the traditions of theodicean societies and the traditions of non-theodicean societies? No again

Look at the wordings carefully. “are more likely” to result in religious adherence “than are” those that non-theodicean societies develop”. Here those stands for the traditions. The essence of the text is that the comparison lies between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in with what the non theodicean are likely to result in. The phrase ‘likely to result in’ is elliptical in the second arm. That is the reason we do require the verb ’are’ in the second arm to make the comparison parallel. Hence A is the choice.

In B C D and E the comparisons are wrongly done between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in on one side and various other dissimilar things such traditions themselves, and what the non-theodicean societies' development would etc on the other side.

Though disguised in ellipsis, the comparison remains logical in only A
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Daagh Sir,
I am assuming you are still active in the forum since this is an old post.

The comparison is as below -
"more likely to result in adherence than XXXX "
We can't have "are" to substitute for verb "result". Shouldn't "are" be replaced with "did/do"

"more likely to result in adherence than do the non theodicean soc..... "

To me, D seems close although it does have issue.
Kindly clarify.
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 17 Nov 2021, 03:25
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AKY13
daagh
In this tricky question on comparison, one needs to fix the two arms of comparison first.
Is it between theodicean societies and the non-theodicean societies? No
Is it between the traditions of theodicean societies and the traditions of non-theodicean societies? No again

Look at the wordings carefully. “are more likely” to result in religious adherence “than are” those that non-theodicean societies develop”. Here those stands for the traditions. The essence of the text is that the comparison lies between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in with what the non theodicean are likely to result in. The phrase ‘likely to result in’ is elliptical in the second arm. That is the reason we do require the verb ’are’ in the second arm to make the comparison parallel. Hence A is the choice.

In B C D and E the comparisons are wrongly done between what the theodicean traditions are likely to result in on one side and various other dissimilar things such traditions themselves, and what the non-theodicean societies' development would etc on the other side.

Though disguised in ellipsis, the comparison remains logical in only A

Daagh Sir,
I am assuming you are still active in the forum since this is an old post.

The comparison is as below -
"more likely to result in adherence than XXXX "
We can't have "are" to substitute for verb "result". Shouldn't "are" be replaced with "did/do"

"more likely to result in adherence than do the non theodicean soc..... "

To me, D seems close although it does have issue.
Kindly clarify.
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Hello AKY13,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe that we can resolve your doubt.

Here, the verbs phrases in comparison are "are more likely to result" and "are those that non-theodicean societies develop"; the active verb in the first phrase is actually "are", so the comparison maps perfectly to "are" in the second.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 01 May 2023, 02:27
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Hi ExpertsGlobal5,

I am facing a lot of confusion in such comparisons where "are", "do" etc is used after "than". If possible can you do a detailed explanation of the approach for such a question? Sharing my approach below and where I am stuck

I am clear that we are comparing the Religious Adherence from the Traditions of TS vs the Religious Adherence from Traditions of NTS

A. Traditions of TS are more likely to result in Religious Adherence vs are those of NTS
How to figure out what "are" and "those" refer to?

B. Traditions of TS more likely to result in (a)RA of TS than (b)what NTS develops - Ambiguous meaning, Incorrect
C. Traditions of TS more likely to result in (a)RA of TS than (b)NTS's development would - Would have been correct according to me if it was "NTS's traditions would". Is that correct?

D. Traditions of TS more likely to result in (a)RA of TS than NTS's traditions do - Seems non-ambiguous to me in meaning

E. This is an ambiguous meaning hence eliminated

I couldn't decide between A and D
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Max Weber claimed that the traditions that theodicean 05 May 2023, 23:58
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really confused between where are/do is used
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