thelosthippie
In contrast to the declarations made at previous UN climate change conferences, the third Conference of the Parties' Kyoto Protocol created legally binding obligations as a result of intensive negotiations among both developed and developing nations. Correct idioms:
In contrast to/with x, y...
Compared to/with x, y...
"to" stresses similarities, "with" stresses differences. Not sure if GMAT allows for it.
C is out.
The original sentence informs that previous conferences didn't create something.
You can say "In contrast to/with x, y didn't".
You cannot say "compared to/with x, y didn't". You can compare somthing better to something worse, but you cannot compare something existing to something nonexisting.
D and E are out.
I got to this point and claim this problem a killer.
In contrast to the declarations [participial modifier], [a parallel here]
Quote:
A. In contrast to the declarations made at previous UN climate change conferences, the third Conference of the Parties' Kyoto Protocol created legally binding obligations as a result of intensive negotiations among both developed and developing nations.
The third conference of something created
legally binding obligations, which are contrast to the
declarations. "Declarations made" to "created obligations". I am picking A.
Quote:
B. In contrast to the declarations made at previous UN climate change conferences, the third Conference of the Parties had intensive negotiations among both developed and developing nations, creating legally binding obligations in their Kyoto Protocol.
Not parallel.
This is a problem that I would give up on the GMAT

.