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anish777
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 15 Sep 2023, 02:11
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Hi
Here we are comparing nuclear fusion with nuclear reactor in the right answer choice. I understand that this answer choice is devoid of any grammatical error and is probably the best among the others, but from a meaning standpoint, this answer choice is illogical.
Can any expert pitch in here ?
Thanks
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KarishmaB
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 15 Sep 2023, 04:00
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anish777
Hi
Here we are comparing nuclear fusion with nuclear reactor in the right answer choice. I understand that this answer choice is devoid of any grammatical error and is probably the best among the others, but from a meaning standpoint, this answer choice is illogical.
Can any expert pitch in here ?
Thanks
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First of all, let me say that this question is the stuff of nightmares. It is an official question but I know I would struggle with it.
I would hate (C) but have absolute objections with other 4 too.

The 'and merges ...' of (D) and (E) is absolutely unacceptable. We are not discussing two characteristics of 'nuclear fusion.' We are discussing how it powers the Sun etc so we need a participle.

In (A) and (B), 'as in nuclear reactors' and 'like nuclear reactors' both make no sense either.

We can use 'as in nuclear reactors' only if the comparison is with another thing 'in X'
As in nuclear reactors, this is what happens in X too.

Again, comparison using 'like nuclear reactors' is incorrect. 'splitting them apart' is not like nuclear reactors. Nuclear fusion is not like nuclear reactors. So it doesn't work at all.

Now I am left with option (C) and I have issues with it - the main one being ambiguity.
To me it could imply:
'merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart' is exactly what nuclear reactors do too.
or
... 'splitting them apart' is what nuclear reactors do.

In fact, with that comma before 'as nuclear reactors do,' I feel we are implying the first one and that is what I dislike. I eliminated this option when I read it :(

Then there is this issue of 'do' without a proper verb 'splits.' Though I can live with that.

As for the comparison in option (C), it is alright. Nuclear fusion merges the nuclei of atoms. It doesn't split them apart as nuclear reactors do. Nuclear reactors split them apart.
A does this. B does that. It is alright even if we are comparing a process with a device since we are discussing what each does.
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 03 Oct 2023, 02:43
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I have a quick doubt about Option B -

I have read that Instead of+ gerund is not a preferred selection in GMAT. Is that a good enough reason to eliminate option B.
Also, i am aware that the usage of "Like" is incorrect but I want to make sure that i get all the reasons attacked.

Thank you.
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 03 Oct 2023, 12:11
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vishalsinghvs08
I have a quick doubt about Option B -

I have read that Instead of+ gerund is not a preferred selection in GMAT. Is that a good enough reason to eliminate option B.
Also, i am aware that the usage of "Like" is incorrect but I want to make sure that i get all the reasons attacked.

Thank you.
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That's not a good enough reason to eliminate (B). In fact, in some contexts "instead of + gerund" is the best way to express an idea.

That said, in this case, the use of "instead of splitting" in (B) does not make sense. So, that use contributes to (B) being less than ideal.

"Instead of splitting" communicates that "merging" is done in place of splitting the atoms, but that meaning doesn't make sense in this context since there isn't any situation in which the sun would split atoms and there's no universal or typical situation in which splitting of atoms occurs.

So, the sun simply merges the atoms rather than splits them, not in place of splitting them.
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 19 Oct 2023, 13:40
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vishalsinghvs08
I have a quick doubt about Option B -

I have read that Instead of+ gerund is not a preferred selection in GMAT. Is that a good enough reason to eliminate option B.

Also, i am aware that the usage of "Like" is incorrect but I want to make sure that i get all the reasons attacked.

Thank you.
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I agree with Marty (hi, Marty!): that isn't a concrete rule, so no, it's not a great reason to eliminate (B). More broadly, if you try to rely on a complex list of made-up "rules", you'll never get better at actually reading carefully and thinking about how the differences impact the meaning and clarity of the five options -- and that's really the heart of GMAT SC.

The real problem with B is the comparison, as explained here and here.

I hope that helps a bit!
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and 11 May 2025, 17:53
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Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

The sentence is comparing the actions "what nuclear fusion does which is merging the nuclei" and "what nuclear reactor does which is splitting the nuclei."

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors - "in nuclear reactors" there is no subject, meaning no clarity in terms of "if nuclear reactor is doing it "splitting," or something inside the nuclear reactor is doing it. Hold.

(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors - the action of splitting can't be compared with a noun "nuclear reactors."

(C) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do - "do" need to refer to the "action" or "verb" before. That action is "splitting." "splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do [split them]. Even though "splitting" is an ING verbal it represents an action. The underlying action is "Nuclear reactors split atoms."

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors - "and merges" changes the entire meaning. "is done in nuclear reactors" is missing the subject.

(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart - same as D, and B.
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