Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 21:24 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 21:24
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,355
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,964
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,355
Kudos: 778,096
 [29]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
28
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
sampriya
User avatar
ISB School Moderator
Joined: 23 Nov 2018
Last visit: 25 Nov 2022
Posts: 302
Own Kudos:
264
 [12]
Given Kudos: 358
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V39
GPA: 2.88
Products:
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
SheilyKamra
Joined: 07 Oct 2017
Last visit: 28 Nov 2020
Posts: 23
Own Kudos:
31
 [2]
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 23
Kudos: 31
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Clementinemorin95
Joined: 11 Jun 2020
Last visit: 14 Nov 2021
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 11
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello, I eliminated quickly the answers and was struggling between answer A and E as the only difference is at the end with apostrophe s or not. Can someone explain why E is wrong please? thanks!
avatar
Pallavi2020
Joined: 08 Sep 2019
Last visit: 14 Jul 2022
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 88
Location: India
WE:Consulting (Non-Profit and Government)
Posts: 25
Kudos: 23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can any expert explain this? GMATNinja daagh

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
CEdward
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 Apr 2022
Posts: 1,203
Own Kudos:
272
 [1]
Given Kudos: 332
Posts: 1,203
Kudos: 272
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) To compare the lightning-fast genius of playwright Tom Stoppard with the pedestrian efforts of some of his contemporaries is to compare the exquisite bouquet of a fine wine with that of ordinary grape juice. (Correct)

(B) To compare the lightning-fast genius of playwright Tom Stoppard with the pedestrian efforts of some of his contemporaries is comparing the exquisite bouquet of a fine wine with that of ordinary grape juice.

(C) Comparing the lightning-fast genius of playwright Tom Stoppard with the pedestrian efforts of some of his contemporaries is to compare the exquisite bouquet of a fine wine with that of ordinary grape juice.
-wrong comparison is made between the exquisite bouquet of a wine with grape juice
-demonstrative pronoun 'that of' should be inserted

(D) Comparing the lightning-fast genius of playwright Tom Stoppard with the pedestrian efforts of some of his contemporaries is like comparing the exquisite bouquet of a fine wine with that of ordinary grape juice.
-demonstrative pronoun 'that of' should be inserted

(E) To compare the lightning-fast genius of playwright Tom Stoppard with the pedestrian efforts of some of his contemporaries is to compare a fine wine’s bouquet with ordinary grape juice’s bouquet.
-Compared to a, this sentence just seems awkward, does someone have a specifically grammatical reason for why a is preferred?
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,350
Own Kudos:
741
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,350
Kudos: 741
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Unfortunately, I’m not an expert. However, I believe this is one of those examples in which Choice E is not necessarily grammatically incorrect, but the parallel structure of A is “better.”

Part 1 is comparing X of Y to A of B. To then switch over to using the possessive “ ‘s “ is “less parallel”, even if it is not entirely wrong.

At least, that’s what I’m taking away from this example.

Hopefully someone will weigh in.

Pallavi2020
Can any expert explain this? GMATNinja daagh

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
sid0791
Joined: 09 Aug 2020
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 16
Posts: 81
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A is clearly parallel as compared to E, just a query, wouldn't "that" create an issue in A? (ambiguity)
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,350
Own Kudos:
741
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,350
Kudos: 741
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I was thinking the same thing.....


If you substitute in the antecedent, it sounds like we’re comparing the “exquisite bouquet of fine wine” to the “bouquet of ordinary grape juice.”

It seems to me that referring to ordinary grape juice as a “bouquet”, exquisite or otherwise, is not what the author intended.

One is great, the other sucks. Labeling the one that sucks a “bouquet” just doesn’t seem to match what the author intended.


Manhattan GMAT’s and Veritas Prep’s questions seem to be more “GMAT like.” When choosing which sentences to practice, I believe there are more than enough 700 level questions from those 2 companies to fulfill the study requirements.

sid0791
A is clearly parallel as compared to E, just a query, wouldn't "that" create an issue in A? (ambiguity)

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Bambi2021
Joined: 13 Mar 2021
Last visit: 23 Dec 2021
Posts: 319
Own Kudos:
136
 [2]
Given Kudos: 226
Posts: 319
Kudos: 136
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Whats the source of this question?

I think A is a little ambiguous. It could mean that we compare the "exquisite bouquet of a fine wine" with the "exquisite bouquet of ordinary grapejuice", and that doesnt make sense.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
paritoshmahajan
Joined: 25 Jun 2023
Last visit: 28 Mar 2024
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 12
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Technology
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V40
GPA: 4
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V40
Posts: 24
Kudos: 12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This was a clear case of parallelism. "To compare .... is to compare .... " - it was the first point of filtering where i was left with option A and E. Further in both the options , the first part and second part of the comparison need to be parallel.

genius of Noun is not parallel with Noun's bouquet. Hence this makes A the correct option for me

Posted from my mobile device
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
188 posts