The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300

Question

The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300 laserjet printer will be used  more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than  most other laserjet printers, which make about 50 decibels of noise each.

(A) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than

(B) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far quieter than

(C) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far less than

(D) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission of only 43 decibels is far quieter than it is for

(E) as a replacement more for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than than it is for

sayantanc2k · Accepted Answer

The question seems to be flawed. The tested concept is parallelism but none of the answer choices establishes parallelism correctly. Let us start with a simpler example:

I like to play football MORE   as  a hobby  THAN   as  a profession .

In the same line, the correct structure of the given sentence would have been:

The manager at the office supply store believes that  the new CLP-300 laserjet printer will be used MORE   as  a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries  THAN   as  high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings   because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than most other laserjet printers, which make about 50 decibels of noise each.

None of the answer choices establishes parallelism as illustrated above. Option B would be correct if there were "as" before "high quality and feature-packed..."

suchoudh · Answer

Official Explanation:

This sentence displays an illogical comparison and redundancy.  Its noise emission...is far less than most other laserjet printers : it is illogical for emission to be less than a printer. Additionally,  more than  and  rather than  are redundant.

Choice   B  corrects both of these errors without introducing additional errors. The correct answer is  B .

The redundant  rather  is erased. The printer will be used  more as a replacement for.... than (for) high quality and feature packed machines.  The  for  can be omitted because it appears in exactly the same form earlier in the sentence and is implied.

The modifying phrase  far quieter than most other laserjet printers  logically modifies  43 decibels of noise , and there is no illogical comparison between  laserjet printers  and  a noise level present .

In choice C, the word "more" is misplaced in the sentence. The word "more" is used as an adverb for the verb "use"("used more for this than that"), not to express the fact that the new printer is used as a replacement for one thing  more  than it is for another; this is grammatically unclear.

Choices D and E are unidiomatic and unnecessarily wordy. The constructions  is   far quieter than it is for  and  is far less than it is for  are both ambiguous and wordy. Choice E retains the  more  and  rather than  redundancy.

Source: Knewton

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,  saiprasanna

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Choice A:  This answer choice incorrectly compares "noise emissions" to "other laserjet printers", rather than to the printers' noise emissions. Additionally, the use of the word "rather" here is redundant as the phrase "more as a" conveys the required sense of contrast quite well. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice B:  This answer choice maintains appropriate comparison and pronoun use, conveys the intended meaning of the sentence, and is quite concise. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Choice C:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence by using the word "more" to modify "than for high quality and feature-packed machines", rather than as an adverb modifying the verb "use". This change brings ambiguity into the sentence; the sentence could either mean that the new printers will be used as replacements for printers in small offices and libraries more than they will be used as replacements for printers in large company settings, or that the new printers will be used as replacements for printers in small offices and libraries more than they will be used in large company settings. The former meaning is the intended meaning of the sentence while the latter is an aberration. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice D:  This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error; "it" refers to "its noise emission", meaning the new printer's noise emission. Therefore, the use of "it" is inappropriate in the phrase "far quieter than it is for most other laserjet printers", as this phrase is supposed to convey that the noise emissions of  the other printers  are not as quiet as the noise emissions of the new printers. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice E:  This answer choice suffers from the same pronoun error seen in Option D. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

There is one important aspect of the correct answer choice that would be prudent to take a closer look at. On the surface, it may seem that Option B suffers from a parallelism error as it does not follow the "more as X than as Y" format; however, this is not the case. To understand this point, we must take a close look at the meaning of this sentence. Put simply, the meaning is that the manager believes that the new printer will be used as a replacement for printers in certain locations rather than as replacements for "high quality and feature-laden machines" in other locations. Therefore, the correct construction for this comparison is "more as a replacement for X than (a replacement for) Y".

To understand the concept of "Avoiding Pronoun Ambiguity on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGc9RgNXBZE

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

arunrajak · Answer

I think its B. it uses idiom 'more as x than y'. 
x -> 'a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries'
y -> 'high quality and feature-packed machines in large ...'

anish319 · Answer

I think its B.....to me I read it as the manager is saying that this model will be used more as a replacement for X than y because it emits only 43 decibels of noise. I think also that its better to say far quieter than when we are talking about sounds compared to far less than.
A is wrong because we don't say "its noise emission". So i eliminated A.

akshathbs · Answer

(C) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far less than
(D) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission of only 43 decibels is far quieter than it is for
(E) as a replacement more for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than than it is for]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E
reasons...
non essential modifier properly seperated,
(E) as a replacement  more for  printers in small offices and libraries  rather than for  high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than than it is for]

amma4u · Answer

B does the job best and here is why:

Idiom is more x than y
x and y are parallel.

mayur666 · Answer

Anukrati,
The main issue here is an idiomatic one. The proper construction is: 'The printer will be used more as a replacement for X than Y.' This tells us something concrete about the printer, and makes a clear comparison.

In choice C, however, we have this construction: 'The printer will be used as a replacement for X more than for Y.' This is unclear, and it is not correct idiomatically. It could be that the printer will be used as a replacement for X more than the printer will be used for Y, but that's not what the sentence is trying to say. The proper comparison suggests that the printer will be used more as a replacement for X than (as a replacement for) Y.

The comparison in choice B is clear and unambiguous. In choice C, however, the comparison becomes muddled, and the grammar unclear. It could be, in choice C, that the new printer will be used as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than the printer will be used for high quality and feature-packed machines

As such, it is the placement of the word 'more' in C that causes the comparison to be ambiguous, and the correct placement in B leaves everything clean and clear.

kinghyts · Answer

Experts please explain following parts these 2 sentences :

B) .... it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far quieter than ....

C) ..... it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far less than .....

If "far quieter than " modifies "43 decibels of noise", then the meaning of the sentence in B) is distorted because "noise cannot be quieter".

Whereas "far less than " can correctly modify "43 decibels of noise", since noise can be less or greater than noise from other printers.

bb61 · Answer

its noise emission,  only 43 decibels , is far less than than it is for ....
"only 43 decibels" is what kind of modification??? 
wrong modification.

I think this last part also has pronoun issue. 
  its noise emission  is far less than  it  is for other laserjet printers
"x is less than Y" in which x ll Y=> its noise emission ll it ---- I think "it" is referring to a new copy of noise emission here so instead of "it" we should have "that of other laserjet printers"

bb61 · Answer

The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300 laserjet printer will be used  more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than  most other laserjet printers, which make about 50 decibels of noise each.

Meaning analysis: the managers at the supply store believes that the new CLP-300 laserjet printer will be used more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries than as a placement for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it (new CLP-300's ) emits only 43 decibels, far quieter than most other laserjet printers do.

Error analysis:

modifier: I doubt. what kind of modification the "only 43 decibels" is?? 
llisim: yes; "its noise emission" is compared with "most other laser printers". the comparison entities are illogical; therefore, we have llisim issue here.
idiom: X more than Y. X ll Y=>   for printers in small offices and libraries  ll  for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings  correct (we have ellipsis here)

POE:

(A)  more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries  rather  than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than

(B)  more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far quieter than
 
"for" is needed before "high quality" to make the comparison clear

(C)  as a replacement  for  printers in small offices and libraries  more than   for  high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far less than

(D)  as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission of only 43 decibels is far quieter than it is for
"for" is omitted before "high quality", making the comparison ambiguous 
this option introduce pronoun issue. "its noise emission" is compared with "it" that has ambiguous referent. 
"it" refers to the same noun as "its", and the intended meaning of "it" is a new copy of noise emission from most other laserjet printers. therefore, we cannot use "it" to refer to a new copy.

(E)  as a replacement more for printers in small offices and libraries  rather  than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than than it is for
errors are same as the errors in D

sa18 · Answer

Still confused with the answer choices.
Can someone explain briefly

profileusername · Answer

Unable to understand why choice (B) is chose over (C). The idiomatic construction of "more as ... than ..." is still unclear and there haven't been any satisfying explanations posted so far.

abhimahna · Answer

Hi  TheMastermind  ,

I will try to explain this question.

More as a replacement for X than   Y is a correct form. I know it is a bit weird but is acceptable. Notice using "for" is also optional.

The main problem with most of the options is the comparison of noise with laserjet printers.

(A) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  its noise  emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than -->  Its noise is far less than the laser printers. ILLOGICAL.

(B) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far quieter than

(C) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because it emits only 43 decibels of noise, far less than  -> Same as A

(D) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission of only 43 decibels is far quieter than it is for  --> Some thing is quieter than something else. Hence, using it is for is making the Illogical meaning.

(E) as a replacement more for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than than it is for  --> Change in meaning. Replacement more for X than for Y. Hence, incorrect.

daagh · Answer

The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300 laserjet printer will be used  more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because its noise emission, only 43 decibels, is far less than  most other laserjet printers, which make about 50 decibels of noise each.

Some basic takeaways before we plunge into this question: 
1. It emits, only 43 decibels …. less than --- This is ok -- 43 decibels is a quantum number considered singular -- so 'less' is acceptable 
2. its emission is quieter than ---- This is not ok because an emission cannot act, just as we cannot say, his height is short.

(A) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  its noise emission , only 43 decibels,  is far less than   (most other laserjet printers) emission compared with machines wrong --- That the 'emission is far less than- is acceptable. However, the emission is being wrongly compared with printers -- wrong choice

(B) more as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  it emits  only 43 decibels of noise,  far quieter than  (most other laserjet printers) ---- 1. 'it emits … far quieter than' is wrong 2. emits is a verb. Therefore, it requires another verb on the other compared thing namely printers. We must say, 'far quieter than do' wrong choice

(C) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  it emits  only 43 decibels of noise,  far less than  -  (most other laserjet printers) same thing as in B; verb required to indicate the action of the larger machines. --- wrong

(D) as a replacement for printers in small offices and libraries more than high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  its noise emission  of only 43 decibels is  far quieter than  it is for (most other laserjet printers) …. its noise emission of only 43 decibels is far quieter than -- should be less than --- wrong

(E) as a replacement more for printers in small offices and libraries rather than for high quality and feature-packed machines in large company settings because  its noise emission , only 43 decibels,  is far less tha n it is for  (most other laserjet printers)-- correct choice. 
 
Of course, there may be other errors in any of the choices. However, this much should be sufficient to arrive at the correct answer.

AndrewN · Answer

Wow,  imSKR , you really did your homework on this one. Kudos from me for helping others who may come across your post. I rejected choice (B) for its lack of a parallel  for , as in,  more as a replacement for A than  for  B . When the distance between A and B grows beyond a certain length, the comparison and, by extension, the sentence can be hard to follow. I agree with the main point  sayantanc2k  makes above. I cannot place confidence in any answer choice after carefully reviewing each.

Perhaps a moderator would like to rebrand this one "poor quality." It would not make the cut for appearing on the GMAT™, and I do not think it is worth your time or anybody else's to use to prepare for the GMAT™.

- Andrew

Ccccc1111111 · Answer

What?!
The similar question：

Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

(A) more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

(B) more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

(C) as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than

(D) as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for

(E) as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for

SC69440.02
Spoiler: OA
OA is C

The answer is just totally opposite.
OMG...

Posted from my mobile device

VerbalBot · Answer

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The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300

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The manager at the office supply store believes that the new CLP-300

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