The term Socialism incorporates a broad spectrum of economic organizat

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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific communist regimes or with a totalitarian governmental structure.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Prallelism + Idioms

• “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "either with specific...governmental structure"; the unidiomatic use of "either" without "or" leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific communist regimes or with a totalitarian governmental structure; please remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "either with a specific...governmental structure"; the unidiomatic use of "either" without "or" leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific communist regimes or with a totalitarian governmental structure; please remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

C: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "either with specific communist regimes or with a totalitarian governmental structure", conveying the intended meaning - that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific regimes that are communist or with a totalitarian governmental structure. Further, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic construction "either A ("with a specific communist regime") or B ("with a totalitarian governmental structure") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B", maintaining parallelism between A and B in the same.

D: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrases "specific regimes" and "communist and totalitarian governmental structure"; the use of "communist" to modify "governmental structure" rather than "regimes" incorrectly implies that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific regimes or with a governmental structure that is totalitarian and communist; the intended meaning is that the term Socialism is often associated either with specific regimes that are communist or with a governmental structure that is totalitarian.

E: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("with a specific communist regime") and B ("a totalitarian governmental structure") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B"; please remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Either-Or" and "Neither-Nor" on the GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team