The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 63 Sentence Correction (SC2) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity,  thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do .

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do

B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors

D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors

E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun

The  best or excellent answers get kudos , which will be  awarded  after   the answer is revealed.

zubair123 · Accepted Answer

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do (Correct)

B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors (as meteors is not a correct comparison between the action of the earth and action of meteors)

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors (Same error as B)

D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors (as is done by meteors is passive voice and long. a more concise phrase is A)

E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun (Distorts the meaning by moving 'crash into sun' further ahead after meters. Also repeats the same error as B and C)

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Shrinidhi · Answer

Meaning Analysis:The Second sentence after the comma is the modifier of the first. The counter action maintains the earth to be in orbit which would otherwise crash into the sun as meteors do.It doesn't mean it would crash as meteors.

Option B,C & E distorts the meaning So can be eliminated.

Option D uses "as is done by" which is unnecessary and not concise.
Option A is correct which is concise and with clear meaning.

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GKomoku · Answer

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity, thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do.

Meaning analysis: Universal fact that the velocity and inertia of the earth balance the force of gravity, and this action helps to keep the Earth in orbit. Otherwise it will crash into the Sun, as meteors do.

Error analysis: if we clearly understand the intended meaning we can easily eliminate D and E, because , + and (comma + fanboys) introduce IC, but in the original sentence, -ing modifiers represent the result of the countering action. We lost this meaning with D and E.
“as” to present comparison MUST be followed by a clause.
“like” to present comparison MUST be followed by a noun entity.
With this we can eliminate B and C.

So we left with A, and indeed this is correct answer choice.
Let’s look at sentence structure to clearly understand this sentence:

The velocity and inertia of the earth (main subject - plural)
…………..counter the force of gravity, (main verb – plural – agrees in number with the subject)
……thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, (“,+thus” cannot start IC, -ings show that this part is modifies whole preceding clause, so in the result of the “counter” The Erath is in orbit, maintaining and allowing is perfectly //, rather than helps to convey intendent comparison, pronoun "it" unambiguously refers to "Earth")
……………………as meteors do. (“as” correctly followed by the clause to present the comparison, verb “do” refers to “crash”, clear and concise)

For more information about -->Verb-ing modifiers<--

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do

B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors
(GMAT prefer rather than to instead of, I don't see any other errors here...

)

D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors
(this sentence distorts intended meaing, it seems want to make all verbs // counter - maintain - allow, total mess, and the part after "as" is too wordy, we don't need passive here, when we can use clear active voice)

E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun
(what about "allow"? "unlike" also must be followed by a noun to present a comparison)

A

) D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors (this sentence distorts intended meaing, it seems want to make all verbs // counter - maintain - allow, total mess, and the part after "as" is too wordy, we don't need passive here, when we can use clear active voice) E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun (what about "allow"? "unlike" also must be followed by a noun to present a comparison) A

shahidomer77 · Answer

X rather than Y is the correct usage so A
X and Y are of same tenses

Kudos please

generis · Answer

Project SC Butler: Day 63 Sentence Correction (SC2)

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity,  thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do .

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do
B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors
C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors
D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors
E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

• The sentence is correct as written.

• The underlined portion contains two instances of parallelism:
 maintaining  and  allowing  are parallel, and
the comparison of the actions  crash into the sun ,  as meteors do  is also parallel

• Choices B and C are incorrect because they omit the final  do , so the comparison is not parallel

• Choice D is incorrect because the verbs in the comparison,  to crash  and  is done , are not parallel

• The comparison in E is incorrect because  maintain the earth in orbit  is not parallel to  meteors that crash into the sun

• The correct answer is A

COMMENTS   
 Shrinidhi  , I am glad to see your post (i.e., welcome).

This sentence is difficult.

Everyone, please see whether you understand the portion of the OE that I highlighted.
If not, do a little searching. 
I am concerned that among the responses, I did not see mention of the absence of "do" in options B and C. That absence is fatal.

Every poster had some part of the analysis correct, and no poster had all of it correct.
Hmm.
We have people who have not posted on my threads before, and stalwarts who make this forum a great place to learn.
Decision: smiley faces to all who answered.

sanpreetsingh · Answer

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do

B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors

D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors

E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun

B,C - Incorrect comparison of verb in first part to the noun in second. 
E - unlike meteors does not have a correct noun to compare with keeping the meaning intact. 
D - usage of but do not allow.... changes the meaning

Hence, A is the answer.

thangvietnam · Answer

Project SC Butler: Day 63 Sentence Correction (SC2) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity,  thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do .

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do

B) thus maintaining the earth in orbit and not allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors

D) and maintain the earth in orbit but do not allow it to crash into the sun, as is done by meteors

E) and maintain the earth in orbit, unlike meteors that crash into the sun

choice B
"and not". I dislike this and I dont see it is in correct answer. is it wrong? anyone know, pls comment
"as meteors" is wrong. we need "do" after "meteors" or we can think that "as" is "in capacity of". in short, B is gone
choice C
"instead of" is not conjunction, which connect two similar things. so, "instead of" is wrong. "instead of" is preposition which can combine with noun to be an adverb or adjective. you can consult good dictionary to see the use of "instead of".. "penguin dictionary" explain clearly the use of "instead of" and "rather than". "rather than" can connect two similar things.
"like +noun" at the end of sentence can work as "as +do" . one question from gmatprep
computers can think like human beings.
but like+noun refers to the subject of the main clause. comma+"like meteors" must refer to subject of the main clause. there is no such subject. without comma, "like meteor" is correct because it refers to "it to crash into the sun". 
choice D
"and maintain" show a separate action from "counter". this is absurd. the split between "and do" and "doing" is popular on gmat. realizing the meaning difference is not easy. take enough time to practice realizing. "as is done by meteor" is wrong. this phrase refer to the subject of the main clause. there is no such subject. second error is that there is not any form of to be in preceding phrase, so inserting "is" is wrong. if the second part of comparison contain a form of to be, the first part need a form of to be. I am good at gmat as you are. this is correct
choice E
"comma+unlike+noun" refer to the subject of the main clause , "velocity' and ' inertia". this comparison is wrong.

rocky620 · Answer

generis  &  AndrewN  sir

Kindly help to chose between choices A & C. My confusion:

Like  and  As  both can be used to present comparison/similarity. In that:
Like is always followed by a Noun;
As is always followed by a Clause.

As  can have other functions:
Similar to, While/During (two actions happening at the same time) - then it is typically followed by clause...... As i was walking, i saw a tiger. 
Similar to, Because/Since (Why did one action happen) - then it is typically followed by clause..... I joined gym as was getting fat. 
Position/Role/Designation - then it has to be followed by a noun..... John joined the company as a manager.  (in the capability of a manager)

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity,  thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do.

A) thus maintaining the earth in orbit rather than allowing it to crash into the sun, as meteors do
As+Clause : Ok
Comparison between: The action of crashing.

C) thus maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing it to crash into the sun, like meteors
Like+Noun : Ok
Comparison between: The action of crashing.

Both seem correct in the meaning, apart from the usage of   rather than   vs   instead of  . (is there any preference on GMAT in  these idiom's  usage)

If we look at the below example:

John plays poker, like Sam......Like +noun; comparison between playing styles
John plays poker, as Sam does......As+Clause; comparison between playing styles

Both seems to be correct.

So, how can we select A over C?

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  rocky620 . In general, a single-word alternative will follow  instead of  on the GMAT™, while an action or phrase will take  rather than .

1)  He collected baseball cards  instead of  hockey cards.  (The comparison is between types of cards.)

2)  He slept in  rather than  going to his class.  (The comparison is between different actions.)

In the sentence in question,  allowing it to crash into the sun  is a gerundive (noun) phrase—i.e. you could not say  maintaining the earth in orbit instead of allowing , without further information as to what was allowed. For more on the topic, you may find  this short video by Magoosh  to be of use.

As for  like  versus  as , in general,  like  will be used in a noun-to-noun comparison;  as  will be used to compare actions. Rather than create and analyze a bunch of hypothetical situations, I find it more useful to look at the context of the sentence in front of us. In (C),  like meteors  does not draw a proper noun-to-noun comparison— allowing it to crash  is an action, so  as meteors    is appropriate. Again, for further information on the topic, see  this e-GMAT post . I hope it helps.

Thank you for thinking to ask, and good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The velocity and inertia of the earth counter the force of gravity

Prep Toolkit

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

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