They say a week in politics is a long time. Like politics, a

Question

They say a week in politics is a long time.  Like  politics, a week is a long time in teaching too!

(a) Like
 (b) As
 (c) As with
 (d) Like in
 (e) As in

Could anyone explain the correct answer?

thanks

egmat · Accepted Answer

Hi Backbencher,

Your analysis is very good. However, the reason for eliminating Choice B - "As" - is not correct. When "As" is used for comparison, it MUST be followed by a clause. In this option, "As" is just followed by a anoun. "As" can ONLY be followed by anoun, when it presents role or function of someone/something. For example:

As a manager, John has made significant contributions in the company.

Here there is no comparison between "John" and "manager". Rtahre "john"himself is the "manager". His role in the company is of a manager.

Since Choice B in the given problem "As" is not followed by a clause, it now illogically presents the function of "a week" as "politics".

To learn the correct usages of "Like" and "As", click on the following link for a detailed article:
as-vs-like-correct-and-incorrect-usages-133950.html

We have included in our course a special in-depth serries that features the correct usages of Like and As, why there is a confusion in the usage of "As" and how it can be resolved. There are three concepts files and an application file to practice the knowledge of the same. Log on to e-gmat.com, register for free, and access the concept "Usage of Like" in the Preview Level with pther importaant concepts, all for free.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
Shraddha
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Thanks. Shraddha

abhi398 · Answer

Like is used to compare similar nouns...
Here like can not be the answer...

hence we can eliminate A and D....

As is used to compare actions....

As poltics, a week cannot be used ..... hence eliminate B

As in will be the correct answer ....

cvsmech · Answer

I don't think there is anything wrong with "Like" in this sentence.

Like is followed by a noun politics.

If we were comparing politics to a week it would have been correct.

Like Politics, A week (Noun).

But we are comparing politics to teaching. As in is the right answer.

vix · Answer

Methinks E is best, because we are comparing Politics with teaching, two fields. 'As in' is used because the context is time, I initially thought that it was 'As with'.

Hurrydil · Answer

E looks perfect. it maintains both parallel structure-'in politics' and 'in teaching'- and proper use of 'as'- as in politics (in politics is not a noun). For comparison, we use 'as' before a clause. 
My question is:

Is the phrase 'in politics' a clause? I think clause need to have verb.

I would appreciate if anyone could throw some light on this.

vimalpat · Answer

I dont agree with the solution because As when used as a preposition would make the comparison such that the compared entities are the basicaly the same.

Can you provide me the source of the question please

Backbencher · Answer

They say a week in politics is a long time. Like politics, a week is a long time in teaching too!

(a) Like

This option compares Politics with a week. This is a wrong comparison. Correct comparison is between Politics and Teaching

(b) As

This option is eliminated because of wrong comparison. Also, "as politics, a week" is certainly wrong. Eliminated

(d) Like in

Eliminated for the same reason as for option A

Left with options A and C. Here you should check for parallelism. Since the non-underlined portion has "in teaching too", the best option that will be parallel to non-underlined part is option E.

(c) As with

(e) As in

Hence, the right option is E. Hope it helps for those who found the same two options left behind. Thanks. Kudos can cheer me

DharLog · Answer

If we choose D it will be a wrong comparison. 
E makes the perfect sense.

bratbg · Answer

AjiteshArun   egmat   carcass   generis  can anyone please explain this question.

Thanks in advance

rsrighosh · Answer

This means in "As  in politics ", this is a clause? Shouldn't clause have a verb?
I chose "Like in" instead as i initially understood that a clause must contain a verb.

Example: As  honey bee doe s, a humming bird collects nectar from flowers.

Could you please explain  egmat

Lokigator · Answer

They say a week in politics is a long time.  Like  politics, a week is a long time in teaching too!

(a) Like -  Wrong comparison between politics and a week in teaching 
 (b) As -  Cannot use "as" with a noun 
 (c) As with -  Wrong preposition 
 (d) Like in -  Like followed by a prepositional phrase is wrong 
 (e) As in -  Correct Choice

Anuj6221 · Answer

JoseManuel · Answer

The correct answer is  (e) "As in"  because it correctly compares politics and teaching in terms of time perception.

They say a week in politics is a long time. Like politics, a

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They say a week in politics is a long time. Like politics, a

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