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FN
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is Updated on: 25 Sep 2018, 21:26
Originally posted by FN on 21 Jun 2005, 11:30.
Last edited by Bunuel on 25 Sep 2018, 21:26, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

42% (00:43) correct 58% (00:55) wrong based on 531 sessions

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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is prized chiefly because of its clarity and extraordinarily deep blue color.

A. usual
B. it is usual
C. one usually is
D. is usual
E. has been usual
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D
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mnutana
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 25 Jun 2005, 07:54
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Usual v/s. Is Usual: He is faster than is usual for any human being – Is correct.
He is faster than usual today – is correct

A Mercedes is more expensive than usual for a car – Incorrect
A Mercedes is more expensive than is usual for a car – Correct

When something is compared to a subgroup to which it belongs, is usual should be used. When something is compared to itself, usual is fine

e.g. He is nicer than usual.
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thearch
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 21 Jun 2005, 12:21
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"it is usual"...

"one usually is" is not correct since one refers to "a stone" so the sentence would be "larger than a stone usually is for a precious stone", which doesn't make sense.
"has been usual", who said it is not usual anymore?

usual/is usual/it is usual
do we need a verb? WHY yes or no? :help2

B if I must give an answer
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FN
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 23 Jun 2005, 07:50
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I was hoping someone could put in a better explaination...

THe OE is that larger is is being compared with usual so in order to keep em parallel we should use is usual....
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TooLegitToQuit
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 24 Jun 2005, 06:32
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Maybe I'm having a brain fart, but how do you compare between two larger and usual? Wouldn't that fall under the common GMAT mistake of comparing between comparing between apple and orange? Could someone please explain this? Thanks.
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 25 Sep 2018, 20:33
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Usual v/s. Is Usual: He is faster than is usual for any human being – Is correct.
He is faster than usual today – is correct

A Mercedes is more expensive than usual for a car – Incorrect
A Mercedes is more expensive than is usual for a car – Correct

When something is compared to a subgroup to which it belongs, is usual should be used. When something is compared to itself, usual is fine

e.g. He is nicer than usual.
-------------------------------

Is it correct explanation?
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 28 Mar 2020, 07:53
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I like questions like these since they match official questions in the concept they test.
Offical Question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-partheno ... fl=similar
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The Hope Diamond is larger than usual for a precious stone, but it is 07 Nov 2023, 05:05
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Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

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