Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to

Question

Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries.

(A) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries

(B) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders

(C) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern libary

(D) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts

(E) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts

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Show SpoilerKaplan OE

This sentence is challenging because of all the things it's trying to do: You have to make a comparison between early medieval monasteries and modern libraries, while also taking into account a modifier for those early medieval monasteries. The modifier, "while clearly less accessible to outsiders," must come directly next to early medieval monasteries, so (B) and (D) are out. Additionally, in (B), it's not clear what they refers to. Now, of the remaining options, (A), (C), and (E), which phrasing works best—like modern libraries or as does the modern library7 The second option is incorrect, as in choice (C); libraries needs to be plural in order to parallel monasteries. And finally, eliminate (E) because acted like modern libraries act is wordier and clumsier than like modern libraries. (A) is the correct answer.

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Official Answer

A

daagh · Accepted Answer

(A) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries ----  Here the comparison is between two nouns namely repositories and libraries. Use of ‘like’ is good enough. The phrase ‘ for text’  is just a prepositional addendum, the so-called middleman, probably to lure test takers into a momentary trap. Correct choice.

(B) Like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders -- whom does they refer to?  Repositories or monasteries? Ambiguous reference, reject it

(C) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library ----  If you are comparing a clause using as and a verb, then the comparison illegally shifts to monasteries form repositories, which is logically wrong. Because, in terms of function, only repositories are comparable to libraries. In addition, the shift from the plural repositories to the singular modern library is unwarranted and awkward. 
 
(D) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts ----  what is clearly less accessible seems to refer to modern libraries.

(E) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts ---  acted  like modern libraries act - like followed by a clause is wrong

HSWKM · Answer

A is fine. 
"Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries.

a) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries

b) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders
 They refers to both modern libraries as well as monasteries - wrong. Only monasteries were less accessible. 

c) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern libary
 Firstly parallelism error - library vs Monasteries; Secondly- like does better than "as does" 

d) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts
 misplaced modifier implies the same meaning as in B. 

e) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts
 This is clearly out of the fray.

riteshgupta1 · Answer

C should be it
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries. 

A.while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries. 
- comparing wrong things. You could say "as do modern libraries"

B.like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders. 
- wrong, they usage

C.while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library 

keep this

D.like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts 

Out, what is this phrase modifying - "while clearly less accessible to outsiders"

E.while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts. 

- acted like...

ywilfred · Answer

A. while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries. 

B. - 'they' has no clear referent

C. - meaning of sentence changed

D. - problem with modifier position

E. - awkward sentence

A is the best choice.

ah2sea · Answer

Here is a question from Kaplan 800. 

Early medieval monasteries,   while clearly less accessible to outsides, often served as repositories for texts, like modern libraries.  

a) while clearly less accessible to outsides, often served as repositories for texts, like modern libraries.
b) while clearly less accessible to outsides, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library. 

The answer choice said A) is correct. I don't understand why. 

"Like" is used to compare nouns and "As" is used to compare actions. Isn't monasteries  served  as repositories. Thus, we should use  as  to compare  monasteries served  to  modern library served ? Please advice.

ps_dahiya · Answer

Comparison is between "medieval monasteries" and "modern libraries".

Original:
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsides, often served as repositories for texts, like modern libraries. 

Remove the non-essential phrase and lets re-phrase the sentence:

Early medieval monasteries, like modern libraries, often served as repositories for texts.

GMATT73 · Answer

Rearrange the order of the sentence and you can see the comparison easier.

 Early medieval monasteries ,  like   modern libraries , while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts. 

** Also monastaries and libraries must both be plural to balance the sentence.

surbab · Answer

In my opinon B is the best of the options. Eventhough "They" is ambigous.


a) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries  - like modern libraries is far away from the comparison. 

b) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders    - better option  

c) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern libary - comparison is between monasteries and modern library  - mismatching comparison. 

d) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts  - improper use of modifiers. 

e) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts   - change in the meaning.

12345678 · Answer

i think its A

a) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries - CORRECT

b) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though  they  were clearly less accessible to outsiders- AMBIGUOUS

c) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts  as does the modern libary  - - WRONG COMPARISON

d) like modern libraries,  while clearly less accessible to outsiders , often served as repositories for texts- WRONG MODIFIER

e) while clearly less accessible to outsiders,  acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts - CHANGES D MEANING

whatthehell · Answer

Early medieval monasteries,  while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts, like modem libraries.

(A)while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts, like modern libraries (misplaced modifier)

(B)like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders (pronoun – they ambiguous reference)

(C)while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library (repositories for texts as does the modern library doesn’t make sense but best answer in the given choices)

(D)like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts (no need of why)

(E)while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts (wordy, acted and act redundant)

hasham222 · Answer

The OA is A.

Here's what that OE says

"You have to make a comparison between early medieval monasteries and modern libraries, while also taking into account a modifier for those early medieval monasteries. The modifier, "while clearly less accessible to outsiders," must come directly next to early medieval monasteries, so (B) and (D) are out. Additionally, in (B), it's not clear what they refers to. Now, of the remaining options, (A), (C), and (E), which phrasing works best—like modern libraries or as does the modern library7 The second option is incorrect, as in choice (C); libraries needs to be plural in order to parallel monasteries. And finally, eliminate (E) because acted like modern libraries act is wordier and clumsier than like modern libraries. (A) is the correct answer."

eybrj2 · Answer

(A) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts,  like modern libraries

(C) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts  as does the modern libary

What's the difference between those two?

"like modern libraries" and "like modern libraries" both clearly modify the subject " monaseries.

The explanation in the book says that in C "the modern library" doesn't agree with "monaseries" in number. That's why C is wrong.
However, in Manhattan SC 5th edition, "Law studetns learn to think as a lawyer does" is correct.
I also asked a Manhattan instructor whether "law studetns" and "a lawyer" have to be parallel, and the instructor said they didn't have to.

Now, I am confused which one is correct.

One more thing,

What about "the" before modern library in C? 
Is it correct?
The author never mentioned any libraries before "as". 
I kind of speculate that this might be the reason why C is incorrect.

georgepaul0071987 · Answer

In the question that you posted you forget to insert the comma after the word "texts " . This makes a huge difference !

But anyway this question focuses more on the "meaning" of the sentence .

This is what the original sentence says :
Early medieval monasteries - 
(1) Are like modern libraries
(2)Are Clearly less accessible to outsiders and served as repositories for texts

Choice (C) Implies that modern libraries also "served as repositories for texts " - This changes the meaning of the sentence .

You need to see how you can convey the meaning of the sentence in the correct manner.

There's no rule as such which says that you cannot compare a singular noun with a plural noun 
for instance - "This apple tastes better than the apples in the basket " .

Hope this is clear.

gmatter0913 · Answer

I am not an expert, but I am just giving my opinion.

Let us understand the intended meaning of the sentence. The sentence is saying the below.

1. Early medieval monasteries are less accessible to outsiders. (modern libraries are well accessible to outsiders.)
2. Early medieval monasteries, like modern libraries, often served as repositories of texts.

Let's take a look at the options.

B. Wrong. The antecedent to 'they' is not clear at all. It has to refer only to 'Early medieval monasteries'. It is not clear whether 'they' is referring to 'text repositories', 'libraries','monasteries' or both 'libraries and monasteries'.
C. 'served' and 'does' are not parallel. Wrong.
D. Wrong Meaning. This option shows that even libraries are not accessible to outsiders.
E. Wrong usage of 'Like'

Option A correctly compares 'monasteries' and 'libraries, and applies 'less accessible to outsiders' only to early medieval monasteries.

Also, the post has a small typo in option A listed in the answer options. There is a comma before 'like modern libraries' in option A.

Option A is the best among the answer choices. The other options are grammatically incorrect.

A has a correct comparison. Please explain why do you think A has a wrong comparison.

----------------------------------------------
 Press +1 Kudos if this helped you.

daagh · Answer

A. while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries --  wrong; the comparison is between monasteries and the libraries and not between the texts and the libraries.  
B. like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders --- T he reference to 'they' is unclear; it could be the monasteries or the libraries as well.  
--- 
C. while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library --  I would go with this for the fact that the modifier while clearly less accessible to outsiders is placed next to the monasteries, its genuine modified noun.

D. like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts –  what does the modifier while clearly less ….outsiders’ modify. It looks like the libraries, which is logically wrong.

E. while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts ---  like modern libraries act is grammatically wrong since ‘like’ cannot be followed by a clause.

Therefore, C looks like the only plausible correct choice.

aditya8062 · Answer

A as WRITTEN is WRONG; however i just checked this question in the book and noticed that A (as written by SOUVIK is WRONG)

ACTUAL A says :  Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts, like modern libraries. ---->WITH COMMA before "modern libraries", this option is CORRECT

why C is WRONG ? ---->because C incorrectly implies that THE modern library (singular) serves as REPOSITORIES (plural).

aditya8062 · Answer

B says :  Early medieval monasteries, like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders
 ------>"THEY" in B is AMBIGUOUS . it can refer to "MDERN LIBRARIES" or "medieval monasteries"

LakerFan24 · Answer

Why is "C" not the right answer? toward the latter end of the sentence, it says "served as repositories ...". Are we not comparing medieval monasteries with modern libraries by their capacity to "serve as repositories"? That's why I believed we need an "as does"

chesstitans · Answer

then the problem is which "as does modern library" modify. It seems the phrase modify the medieval monastery, so it should be next the the subject, not repositories

hope it clear

Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to

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