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24 Jul 2021, 22:50
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B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
75%
(hard)
Question Stats:
45% (01:42) correct
55%
(01:37)
wrong
based on 358
sessions
History
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Not Attempted Yet
The shutting down of Good Books, the country’s popular chain of bookstores that has now decided to only sell online, has attracted criticism from book lovers across the nation, but the company’s management says that running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as it does to run an online one.
A) running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as it does to run an online one.
B) a physical bookstore costs four times as much to run as an online one does.
C) a physical bookstore costs four times as much to run as it does for an online one.
D) running a physical bookstore costs four times more than an online one.
E) to run a physical bookstore costs four times as much as for an online one.
24 Jul 2021, 22:52
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
Although this fact may not be self-evident from our reading the prompt alone, one glance at the options lets us know that we are dealing with parallelism in comparisons.
More specifically, we are dealing with an SC question that demands very strict parallelism.
→ what is this "it" doing in there?
You could argue that it has a delayed antecedent, the infinitive phrase to run an online one.
Maybe so, but then
(1) the sentence gets unnecessarily long, and
(2) The X and Y elements are not parallel:
X = running a physical bookstore costs
Y = it does to run an online one
• Shaky comparison - parallelism is not strong
We should see like compared to like, this way: running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as running an online bookstore costs.
By contrast, in this sentence, running a physical bookstore costs is compared to it does to run an online one.
→ In terms of phrasing, it does to run an online one is okay, but if we want crystal clear comparison, this phrase is meddlesome.
On its own, without thinking about parallelism, the phrase is clear.
It does = it costs.
To run = infinitive phrase that is the delayed antecedent for it.
An online one = an online bookstore
But this sentence tests direct comparisons, so we had better be thinking about parallelism.
Tough call.
Do not use more than 10 seconds to switch gears.
KEEP, very conservatively, but look for a better answer.
one = bookstore
does = costs to run
• this option correctly compares how much a physical bookstore costs to run with how much an online bookstore costs to run [=does].
• Can we let option A stick around? No.
In terms of clarity, concision, and clean parallelism, option B wins, hands down.
KEEP.
Same problem as that in option A.
The option compares a physical bookstore costs with it does for an online one.
• this option should compare a physical bookstore costs with an online one [store] costs, but we get "it does for an online one
• diction error: something does not cost $X FOR [to run]
ELIMINATE C
ELIMINATE D
→ The word for is sneaky. And wrong. "For" cannot mean "it costs for." Yet again, the sentence is missing a comparative verb.
Not parallel.
• Style gaffe. The infinitive to run is probably not preferred to running.
This decision point is not a major one and should be used only to break ties at the end.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is B.
NOTES
Takeaway: when a problem is clearly testing an issue (strict parallelism in comparisons), be strict.
At other times, when other issues are [also?] clearly at stake, focus on those issues.
Take your cue from the way that the SC is set up.
COMMENTS
Tough question, brave posters.
Well done.
Kudos to all.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
The shutting down of Good Books, the country’s popular chain of bookstores that has now decided to only sell online, has attracted criticism from book lovers across the nation, but the company’s management says that running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as it does to run an online one.
Although this fact may not be self-evident from our reading the prompt alone, one glance at the options lets us know that we are dealing with parallelism in comparisons.
More specifically, we are dealing with an SC question that demands very strict parallelism.
Quote:
A) running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as it does to run an online one.
• lack of parallelism→ what is this "it" doing in there?
You could argue that it has a delayed antecedent, the infinitive phrase to run an online one.
Maybe so, but then
(1) the sentence gets unnecessarily long, and
(2) The X and Y elements are not parallel:
X = running a physical bookstore costs
Y = it does to run an online one
• Shaky comparison - parallelism is not strong
We should see like compared to like, this way: running a physical bookstore costs four times as much as running an online bookstore costs.
By contrast, in this sentence, running a physical bookstore costs is compared to it does to run an online one.
→ In terms of phrasing, it does to run an online one is okay, but if we want crystal clear comparison, this phrase is meddlesome.
On its own, without thinking about parallelism, the phrase is clear.
It does = it costs.
To run = infinitive phrase that is the delayed antecedent for it.
An online one = an online bookstore
But this sentence tests direct comparisons, so we had better be thinking about parallelism.
Tough call.
Do not use more than 10 seconds to switch gears.
KEEP, very conservatively, but look for a better answer.
Quote:
B) a physical bookstore costs four times as much to run as an online one does.
• Correctone = bookstore
does = costs to run
• this option correctly compares how much a physical bookstore costs to run with how much an online bookstore costs to run [=does].
• Can we let option A stick around? No.
In terms of clarity, concision, and clean parallelism, option B wins, hands down.
KEEP.
Quote:
C) a physical bookstore costs four times as much to run as it does for an online one.
• what does it refer to?Same problem as that in option A.
The option compares a physical bookstore costs with it does for an online one.
• this option should compare a physical bookstore costs with an online one [store] costs, but we get "it does for an online one
• diction error: something does not cost $X FOR [to run]
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
D) running a physical bookstore costs four times more than an online one.
• The sentence incorrectly compares the cost of running a physical bookstore with an online bookstore.ELIMINATE D
Quote:
E) to run a physical bookstore costs four times as much as for an online one.
• this sentence should compare how much a physical bookstore costs to run with how much an online bookstore costs to run.→ The word for is sneaky. And wrong. "For" cannot mean "it costs for." Yet again, the sentence is missing a comparative verb.
Not parallel.
• Style gaffe. The infinitive to run is probably not preferred to running.
This decision point is not a major one and should be used only to break ties at the end.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is B.
NOTES
Takeaway: when a problem is clearly testing an issue (strict parallelism in comparisons), be strict.
At other times, when other issues are [also?] clearly at stake, focus on those issues.
Take your cue from the way that the SC is set up.
COMMENTS
Tough question, brave posters.
Well done.
Kudos to all.
24 Jul 2021, 23:22
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My answer is (B).
In dealing with comparison sentences, it is imperative to insist on parallelism between two things being compared.
(A) "running a physical bookstore costs " should be compared with "running an online one costs", but we see "it does to run an online one". Not parallel.
(B) "a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "an online one costs", which matches "an online one does".
(C) "a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "an online one costs", but we get "it does for an online one". Not parallel.
(D) "running a physical bookstore costs " should be compared with "running an online one costs", but the option here is simply "an online one". Not parallel.
(E) " to run a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "to run an online one costs". However, this sentence uses "for an online one". Not parallel.
In dealing with comparison sentences, it is imperative to insist on parallelism between two things being compared.
(A) "running a physical bookstore costs " should be compared with "running an online one costs", but we see "it does to run an online one". Not parallel.
(B) "a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "an online one costs", which matches "an online one does".
(C) "a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "an online one costs", but we get "it does for an online one". Not parallel.
(D) "running a physical bookstore costs " should be compared with "running an online one costs", but the option here is simply "an online one". Not parallel.
(E) " to run a physical bookstore costs" should be compared with "to run an online one costs". However, this sentence uses "for an online one". Not parallel.
