Of all the major developments in information technology that have infl

Question

Of all the major developments in information technology that have influenced literary production,  maybe none is more influential as  the printing press, which brought the entire classical canon to people throughout Europe within 60 years of its invention.

A. maybe none is more influential as

B. it may be that none is more influential as

C. perhaps it is none that is more influential than

D. maybe it is none that was more influential than

E. perhaps none was more influential than

dexerash · Accepted Answer

Of all the major developments in information technology that have influenced literary production,  maybe none is more influential as  the printing press, which brought the entire classical canon to people throughout Europe within 60 years of its invention.

A. maybe none is more influential as

B. it may be that none is more influential as

C. perhaps it is none that is more influential than

D. maybe it is none that was more influential than

E. perhaps none was more influential than

Here are my two cents after learning a few things in the past..

First and foremost, in the original sentence there is a comparison between "major developments in information technology" and "printing press". What is wrong here?
Comparing major development and printing press is wrong. Also, there is an error of Idiom "influential as" is wrong.

Why E is wrong -  "none" was more influential than  is incorrect because here " none " refers to one type of development and is being compared with " printing press "
For example, instead of using none, lets use "one". Then "one" type of development is compared with "printing press". It is same error as it is there in the original sentence.

Why D is correct - First, the past tense is correct here as the original sentence is talking about some past influences.
Second, "none" here doesn't refer back to the developments. It is making a statement that "it was none" which can be compared to "printing press".

Learning here is that you should take care in comparing things.
For example, "The recent discovery by the scientist is similar to the Atom bomb" - is wrong.
 "The recent discovery by the scientist is similar to the discovery of Atom bomb" - right!

Just trying to help you with some examples, although they are not perfect. 
Hope this helps!

daagh · Answer

First method. ; split  is vs was . The printing press was very influential certainly, when it came into being. Therefore, it entails a past tense. Now no one can say whether it is still as influencial. So all is verb choices are out. With A, B, C, D gone, only E is left.

Second method. Split  than vs as , than is required because it is comparative degree. C, D, E remain . Drop C and D for using present tense. E survives

gomennassai · Answer

I picked E as well based on "than" split and construction. OA appears to be D? Is this right?

Marcab · Answer

hii there.
First, let me tell you that there is a subtle difference between "perhaps" and "may be".
You can say "perhaps"(possiblly) holds 70% chances of happening whereas "may be" holds 30-40% chances of happening.

Now looking back to the questions:
Of all the major developments in information technology that have influenced literary production, maybe none is more influential as the printing press, which brought the entire classical canon to people throughout Europe within 60 years of its invention.

A maybe none is more influential as
B it may be that none is more influential as
C perhaps it is none that is more influential than
D maybe it is none that was more influential than
E perhaps none was more influential than "

The use of "perhaps" and "may be" entirely depends on the context.
I assume that you may have reduced the options to limit yourself to D and E.
What is wrong in E? " development is being compared to printing press ".

Of all the vast tides of migration that have swept
through history, maybe none is more concentrated as
the wave that brought 12 million immigrants onto
American shores in little more than three decades.
(A) maybe none is more concentrated as
(B) it may be that none is more concentrated as
(C) perhaps it is none that is more concentrated
than
(D) maybe it is none that was more concentrated
than
(E) perhaps none was more concentrated than

Here the construction of E is much much better than D. "May be it is none" sounds very awkward.

Note that correct comparison has to be made always. In the first question, if the correct comparsion had been made then E would have been the answer.

daagh · Answer

Let me quote the actual OG question and the OE thereof to clear any misgiving

In other words, the comparative construction that is more x than that is under question here along with the correct use of the tense.In D, you may note, it does not have a referent and is wordy too.

Let us now come to the simulated example posted in the forum

"Of all the major developments in information technology that have influenced literary production, maybe none is more influential as the printing press, which brought the entire classical canon to people throughout Europe within 60 years of its invention.

A maybe none is more influential as
B it may be that none is more influential as
C perhaps it is none that is more influential than
D maybe it is none that was more influential than
E perhaps none was more influential than

The point is that all the choices from A to E compare development with the printing press. E should be the answer here also. D is rejected for the same reason as for wordiness as well as for pronoun reference problem.

Abhishek009 · Answer

Correct answer must be (E) , errors in other options highlighted in RED..

shinichikudo · Answer

We can realize quickly that  ''more'' goes with ''than' and not with ''as''.

So A, B gone.

We can eliminate C because it is very awkward and wordy.

So we have D and E left.

D is gone because it uses ''maybe it is none'' -> wordy

So E is our best answer according to the verb ''was'' and ''brought'' (after comma). Answer E is also concise and clear.

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

it has to be E since all other sentences project none pr rather nothing as more superior than others 
Hence IMO E

Of all the major developments in information technology that have infl

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Of all the major developments in information technology that have infl

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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