Version Created Via Using C: So called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels, are having a positive effect on the environment and natural resource base of countries as varied as those of China, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

"resource base of countries as varied as those of China" does not make sense, as "those" can only refer to "countries". So this version of the sentence implies that China, The Netherlands, and Hungary possess countries.

In other words this version of the sentence is essentially saying

"the natural resource base of countries as varied as the countries of (i.e. possessed by) China, The Netherlands, and Hungary".
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So called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels, are having a positive effect on the environment and natural resource base of countries as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

This is essentially a comparison question comparing simply countries with countries.

(A) as varied as - best
(B) as varied as are -- We are not comparing how countries vary from some of the cited countries are.
(C) as varied as those of -- wrong comparison between countries and those of some countries.
(D) that are as varied as --- the comparison seems to be between the variedness of countries
(E) that are varied as are-- The comparison is not even complete.

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This question tests 2 concepts: Idiom, and Meaning. Idiomatically, when we make a comparison with “as” we need to use a “double as,” or “as…as.” Only (A), (B), and (C) contain the correct idiom. Now we must carefully examine the Meaning.

Here we are comparing the “positive effect” in various “countries.” Since “China,” “the Netherlands,” and “Hungary” are all countries, the comparison is clear in (A).

Why can’t it be (B) or (C)?

The word “are” in (B) is simply not necessary. It does not make the sentence (1) more grammatically correct, (2) cleaner stylistically, or (3) clearer in terms of meaning. (A) is a better choice because it has no grammar error, is shorter, and already has a crystal-clear meaning.

(C) contains a pronoun error – “those” would logically refer to the “environment and natural resource base” of the countries of China, the Netherlands, and Hungary, but we are comparing the countries to one another NOT their respective environment and natural resource bases. The COUNTRIES themselves are “varied,” not the “bases.” Notice how the inclusion of this pronoun changes the Meaning.
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Hello rajatkataria14@gmail.com,

I will be glad to help you out with this one.

So called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels, are having a positive effect on the environment and natural resource base of countries as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary.


The sentence starts by explaining the green taxes.

Green taxes = These taxes exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels. These taxes are showing positive effect on two aspects of a country:

the environment and
natural base of many countries.

These countries are as different as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary.


Now let's do the Answer Choice Analysis:

Choice A: as varied as - Correct. This choice clearly presents the intended meaning.

Choice B: as varied as are - Incorrect. This choice seems to suggest that the countries where the green taxes are showing positive results are not China, the Netherlands, and Hungary. Those are different countries.

Choice C: as varied as those of - Incorrect. There is no antecedent for the pronoun those.

Choice D: that are as varied as - Incorrect. As already explained earlier in this thread, this choice leads to a slight meaning change. This choice seems to suggest that the countries where the green taxes are showing positive results are as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary. All these countries are equally varied.

Choice E: that are varied as are - Incorrect. This choice uses incomplete idiom.



Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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GMATNinja egmat chiranjeev Bunuel can you please confirm whether my understanding is correct
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choice c is wrong because
"those" refers to "countries"
and we have "countries of china and hungary"
this is not idiomatic. we do not have "country+name of nation" . we do not have "country of China" though we have "city of Newyork" .

am I correct ?