More than 30 years ago, Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can "jump," as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another . (A) as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another (B) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another (C) as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others (D) like pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others (E) as do pearls that move mystreiously from one necklace to some other https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/16/weekinreview/the-science-corps-wants-a-few-more-good-heretics.html Dr. McClintock, a gentle heretic for most of her 81 years, reported some 30 years ago that genes, the tiny beads of genetic information in each cell, can ''jump,'' like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another . At the time, her peers greeted that revolutionary idea with stony silence. Last week, however, the Nobel committee hailed it as the product of ''great ingenuity and intellectual stringency,'' a discovery that has aided biomedical research and helped explain the great genetic variability found in nature.

Let's look at a couple examples to illustrate the difference between the sentences in question: 1) "Genes, like pearls, can jump." Here we are comparing "genes" and "pearls" -- two things that can apparently "jump". We use "like" to compare two nouns, and that's exactly what we want here. 2) "Owning a house, like the goal of earlier generations, is still a goal of a majority of young adults." Now we are comparing "owning a house" to "the goal of earlier generations" -- two things that, apparently, are still goals of a majority of young adults. But what WAS the goal of earlier generations? Owning a house? Owning a Ferrari? Breaking 700 on the GMAT?? With this structure, the goal of earlier generations can really be anything , as long as it's a goal shared by a majority of young adults today. In other words, this sentence does NOT make it entirely clear that both groups -- earlier generations and the majority of young adults today -- share the same goal (owning a house). 3) "Owning a house is still a major goal of younger generations, like the goal of earlier generations." This is basically the same as the previous example. The "like" clause has been moved, but the sentence still has the same weakness. We are really trying to say that "Owning a house IS still a major goal, JUST AS owning a house WAS a goal of earlier generations." That makes it perfectly clear that both groups shared the same goal. But we can't use "like" to compare two clauses. So even though this question looks a bit like the "earlier generations" question, it's an entirely different animal!

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More than 30 years ago, Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner

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generis

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20 May 2019, 10:45

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MagooshExpert (Carolyn, as far as I know

), would you please address sonusaini1 's query in this post, HERE?

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Hi All,

More than 30 years ago Dr, Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can “jump”, as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.

“Like” and “As”, both are used to convey comparison is a sentence. However, there is a difference between their usages. “Like” is always followed only by a “noun” or a “pronoun” whereas “As” is always followed by a “clause”.

Going by this rule, the original sentence is incorrect because here “as” is not followed by a clause. This error can be rectified either by placing a clause after “as” or by replacing “as” with “like”.

POE:

Choice A: as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another. Incorrect for the reason stated above.

Choice B: like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another. Correct.

Choice C: as pearls do that move from one necklace to others. Incorrect. Firstly, “that” is relative pronoun that modifies a noun. So “that” should touch the noun it modifies. But in this choice, “that” is away. Also, the use of “others” is not correct here. The intended meaning is that pearls move from necklace to another necklace. Using “others” make it ambiguous as to where the pearls move to.

Choice D: like pearls do that move from one necklace to others. Incorrect. Apart from repeating the “that” and “others” errors of choice C, this choice has another error. “like” has been followed by a clause here.

Choice E: as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other one. Incorrect. This sentence distorts the meaning of the sentence. By using the modifier "that move" and verb "do" for pearls, it appears that pearls to two actions - pearls jump and by the way these pearls also move mysteriously...This is not the intended meaning. The author actually wants to say that genes jump like the pearls. And then he describes the manner in which these pearls jump - by moving mysteriously.

1. “Like” is followed by a noun and “as” is followed by a clause.
2. Be careful of any change in words that appear in the original sentence.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha

Hi

Would it be correct to claim that "other" and "some other" in some of the options are incorrect because they require nouns after them? e.g. some other JEWELRY

Thanks

GMATNinja Shraddha mikemcgarry

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26 May 2019, 13:20

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sonusaini1

Dear mikemcgarry sir

would option C been correct , had one to others been replaced with one another?

Thanks & Regards

Hi sonusaini1,

Thanks generis for tagging me here! Yes, I can respond for Mike

It would not make sense to replace "others" with "one another" here:

as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to one another

But it would make sense to replace "others" with "another" (then it is clear that the pearls are moving from one necklace to another necklace). It's not necessary to repeat the noun (necklace), since the parallelism makes it clear:

as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to another

If "others" had been replaced with "another", then C would definitely be a bit better, but it still would be too wordy compared to B (that was the original reason why we eliminated C). The "that" clause in option C is still incorrect, and so B would still be the correct answer in this case.

I hope that helps!

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08 Aug 2019, 04:23

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I do have a question whether we are comparing genes with pearls or we are comparing the action of jumping
of genes with action of pearls movement.

I am confusing too ...how can possible ?!! there is 2 action "jump" in this case but we must use "like" ~!!!!!!!!!!!!!????? could someone explain /? this question remove in these days.

but I finally think "jump" in this case is just a noun !! not a action because it is in the ""

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but I finally think "jump" in this case is just a noun !! not a action because it is in the ""

That's just to show that jump is not a perfectly accurate way to describe what genes do. Can jump is definitely a verb.

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126. More than thirty years ago Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can
"jump," as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.
(A) as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(B) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(C) as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(D) like pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(E) as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other one

I am responding to a p.m. from venmic, vvho vvrote: "The correct ansvver to this one is C not B." I am sorry to differ, but the correct ansvver is B

Idea #1
"like" is used for nouns only, to compare a noun to a noun
"as" introduces a full clause, that must have a full noun + verb structure
See these blog post:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-sente ... ike-vs-as/
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-sente ... omparison/

Idea #2
DO NOT confuse a [noun + participle] structure for a full [noun + verb] structure. This is a very common mistake, the GMAT loves to catch folks in it.
A participle is a verb form, but it's not acting as a verb in the sentence --- rather, it's acting as a noun modifier.
See this blog:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/participle ... -the-gmat/

The phrase "pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another" is not a full [noun + verb] clause --- it would not stand on it's own as a sentence. Rather, it's simply a noun plus a long noun modifier. All we have is the noun and stuff decorating the noun, so "as" is incorrect, and "like" is correct. That's why (A) is wrong and (B) is right.

Once we have the words "pearls do", that's a noun + verb, a clause all on its own --- then "like" is wrong: this is why (D) is wrong. Choices (C) & (E) have the correct word "as" followed by a full clause --- they avoid the "as"/"like" mistake. BUT, (C) & (E) are wordier, less polished, less elegant, more awkward. (B) is much more sleek and efficient, which makes (B) the correct answer.

Does all that make sense?

Mike

Isn't this comparing jumping of Genes with jumping of pearls i.e action. So "as" should be used. Can you please explain??

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rohansherry

So the song "Love me like you do, love love love me like you do" is grammatically wrong?? I used to use English songs to learn English back in the day

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rohansherry

Hi mikemcgarry ,

I am curious to know on whether is it not mandatory to apply parallelism as the first part of the sentence conveys an action with a clause and the second part just mentions a noun

"Genes can jump" - Is a clause, so isn't it important to maintain parallelism?

In that case, how about the following simplified sentence from OG

Owning a house is still a major goal of younger generations, like the goal of earlier generations?

This sentence was marked wrong Quoting parallelism as a reason! Link for question https://gmatclub.com/forum/according-to-a-recent-poll-owning-and-living-in-a-freestanding-house-107775.html

OG mentions that the portion before Like is a full clause, and the portion following like should be a full clause too

GMATNinja, @e-GMAT, please kindly help on this clarification, whether is it important to maintain the parallelism or not?

In case if I miss understood, please correct me

Thank You,
MB

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Hi,
My doubt arised from another OG question

let us consider the below sentence,
Owning a house is the goal of Younger generation, like the goal of Earlier generation
Many discussions in that section point that we can't use like as the first part of the sentence is a clause and hence second part should be a clause too
LINK to that question
https://gmatclub.com/forum/according-to ... 07775.html
If we go by that example, in this question, we also have the first portion which is a clause
Genes can jump, like pearls moving from X to Y.
Another similar sentence is:
John aced the test, like Dany - Is this sentence in correct?

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bmvs

Let's look at a couple examples to illustrate the difference between the sentences in question:

1) "Genes, like pearls, can jump."

Here we are comparing "genes" and "pearls" -- two things that can apparently "jump".
We use "like" to compare two nouns, and that's exactly what we want here.

2) "Owning a house, like the goal of earlier generations, is still a goal of a majority of young adults."

Now we are comparing "owning a house" to "the goal of earlier generations" -- two things that, apparently, are still goals of a majority of young adults.
But what WAS the goal of earlier generations? Owning a house? Owning a Ferrari? Breaking 700 on the GMAT?? With this structure, the goal of earlier generations can really be anything, as long as it's a goal shared by a majority of young adults today.
In other words, this sentence does NOT make it entirely clear that both groups -- earlier generations and the majority of young adults today -- share the same goal (owning a house).

3) "Owning a house is still a major goal of younger generations, like the goal of earlier generations."

This is basically the same as the previous example. The "like" clause has been moved, but the sentence still has the same weakness.
We are really trying to say that "Owning a house IS still a major goal, JUST AS owning a house WAS a goal of earlier generations." That makes it perfectly clear that both groups shared the same goal. But we can't use "like" to compare two clauses.

So even though this question looks a bit like the "earlier generations" question, it's an entirely different animal!

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This explanation has made my understanding of comparisons a lot better
You are the GUY
Thank you so much

Posted from my mobile device

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I think here I could only understand the issue with "to some other" its awkward ..... otherwise I was convinced for E

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2) "Owning a house, like the goal of earlier generations, is still a goal of a majority of young adults."

Now we are comparing "owning a house" to "the goal of earlier generations" -- two things that, apparently, are still goals of a majority of young adults.
But what WAS the goal of earlier generations? Owning a house? Owning a Ferrari? Breaking 700 on the GMAT?? With this structure, the goal of earlier generations can really be anything, as long as it's a goal shared by a majority of young adults today.
In other words, this sentence does NOT make it entirely clear that both groups -- earlier generations and the majority of young adults today -- share the same goal (owning a house).

3) "Owning a house is still a major goal of younger generations, like the goal of earlier generations."

GMATNinja
Hello sir,
Thanks for the nice explanation. My intuition says that the goal of 'earlier generations' and 'majority of young adults' are same, Owning a house. Could you clarify why their goals are not same, please?

It seems that 2) and 3) convey the same meaning (apart from 'like' issue)

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01 Feb 2021, 12:39

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Quote:

More than 30 years ago, Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can "jump," as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.

(A) as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(B) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(C) as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(D) like pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(E) as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other

Request Expert Reply:
Hi Honorable Experts,
MartyTargetTestPrep, GMATNinja, GMATGuruNY, AjiteshArun, VeritasPrepHailey, BrightOutlookJenn,
Could you share why author used inverted comma with jump. Does it play role as verb or noun?
Thanks in advanced..

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Hi TheUltimateWinner,

Does this post help?

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TheUltimateWinner

Hi TheUltimateWinner,

Does this post help?

AjiteshArun
I read that post before making comment, but I can't figure out what you mean actually. Could you elaborate, please?
Thanks__

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Quote:

I'm eagerly expecting feedback from my honorable experts! Appreciating your help, experts.

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27 Mar 2021, 21:39

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Please can you explain Why E is incorrect? I thought like is used for noun comparison whereas as is used for verb comparison in this case why as is incorrect?

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mSKR
Please can you explain Why E is incorrect? I thought like is used for noun comparison whereas as is used for verb comparison in this case why as is incorrect?

Quote:

More than 30 years ago, Dr. Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can "jump," as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.

(A) as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(B) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another

(E) as do pearls that move mystreiously from one necklace to some other

You are right in definition of like vs as. The same definition you need to apply here.

Refer below examples:
1.) I will jump up LIKE a CLOWN
2.) I will jump up AS a CLOWN

Can you spot the difference between these 2?
1.) says I will jump in a clownish manner . It doesn't mean he jump as clown jumps.
Other examples:
I sing like a frog. It does n't I really sing like a frog.
=> Here I am comparing Noun vs Noun ( similar to). I am singing
I run like a cheetah( indicates I run very fast)- my running is not compared as cheetah runs.
Think from a meaning perspective: My action is compared or still its Noun what is being compared.

2.) says I literally jump up as a clown jumps ( here my action is compared with an action)
Other example:
I sing as she wants ( here it doesn't matter about I or she but what matters is how I sing and how she wants)

Summary,
when compare noun, use LIKE
when compare action, use AS

So far so good, so by now you might have shortlisted B and E.

B is XYZ like UVW
E is XYZ do as UVW do

Now here comes the next level of understanding. Both seems grammatical correct.

I will jump up like a clown --( B option)

I will jump up as a clown might ( E option)
I will jump up as clown do

In above examples, in literal sense Clown can actually JUMP, so it is quite possible that I am near clown and I am practicing how a clown jump. so in literal sense, this sentence can exist.

Now see our example:

(B) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another ( Noun Nounphrase)
(E) as do pearls that move mystreiously from one necklace to some other ( Noun verb)

E says pearl can move as genes can jump . Think for a moment: Can in literal sense , pearls can move? Impossible. so it is hypothetical situation . It means move vs jump comparison is wrong. What matters here how genes can jump. Genes can jump like a pearl .( At that moment genes were behaving like pearl). Remember I jump like a clown. At that jumping moment I was like a clown.

Now you know why B is correct.

Summary: You go on meaning approach. check what I need to compare? Action vs action(literal meaning) OR some noun vs noun ( or noun in hypothetical situation)

You can practice other examples:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/just-like-th ... 21750.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/like-the-one ... 82881.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/like-the-gra ... 10047.html

https://gmatclub.com/forum/almost-like- ... td#p162368
https://gmatclub.com/forum/as-the-honey ... 78082.html

( you can get all correct if you can understand correctly what is compare with what . if no comparison we don't need as/like)

I hope it helps.

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egmat

Hi All,

More than 30 years ago Dr, Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can “jump”, as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.

“Like” and “As”, both are used to convey comparison is a sentence. However, there is a difference between their usages. “Like” is always followed only by a “noun” or a “pronoun” whereas “As” is always followed by a “clause”.

Going by this rule, the original sentence is incorrect because here “as” is not followed by a clause. This error can be rectified either by placing a clause after “as” or by replacing “as” with “like”.

POE:

Choice A: as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another. Incorrect for the reason stated above.

Choice B: like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another. Correct.

Choice C: as pearls do that move from one necklace to others. Incorrect. Firstly, “that” is relative pronoun that modifies a noun. So “that” should touch the noun it modifies. But in this choice, “that” is away. Also, the use of “others” is not correct here. The intended meaning is that pearls move from necklace to another necklace. Using “others” make it ambiguous as to where the pearls move to.

Choice D: like pearls do that move from one necklace to others. Incorrect. Apart from repeating the “that” and “others” errors of choice C, this choice has another error. “like” has been followed by a clause here.

Choice E: as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other one. Incorrect. This sentence distorts the meaning of the sentence. By using the modifier "that move" and verb "do" for pearls, it appears that pearls to two actions - pearls jump and by the way these pearls also move mysteriously...This is not the intended meaning. The author actually wants to say that genes jump like the pearls. And then he describes the manner in which these pearls jump - by moving mysteriously.

1. “Like” is followed by a noun and “as” is followed by a clause.
2. Be careful of any change in words that appear in the original sentence.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha

Isn't the action of "jumping" of genes and "moving" of pearls compared here? If that's the case then in case where there is a role/action, "as" should be the correct usage, right?

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