Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair

Question

Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair , the Sacco-Vanzetti trial in 1921 became the political cause of an era.

(A) Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair
(B) As it was in France at the turn of the century with the Dreyfus affair
(C) As it was with the Dreyfus affair in France at the turn of the century
(D) As was the Dreyfus at the turn of the century in France
(E) Like the Dreyfus affair in France at the turn of the century

E

youggotthis95 · Answer

It is a comparison question, so let's try and see what is written after the comma first. "the Sacco-Vanzetti trial" is an event, so the part before the comma should also have an event.

A - It is comparing France to the trial. Incorrect.
B & C - Can't make out what "it" is referring to.
D - As is used to compare actions and here we are comparing two events. Incorrect.
E - "Like the Dreyfus affair" - just what we were looking for!

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jaisonsunny77 · Answer

Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair , the Sacco-Vanzetti trial in 1921 became the political cause of an era. 
 
(A) Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair -  we have an illogical comparison here: the country "France" is being compared to the ''Sacco-Vanzetti'' trial.   
(B) As it was in France at the turn of the century with the Dreyfus affair  -  the past tense verb ''was'' implies that the event/situation being described ceased to exist at some point in the past. This is not the intended meaning of the sentence.   
(C) As it was with the Dreyfus affair in France at the turn of the century  -  has the same error as described in (B).  
 (D) As was the Dreyfus at the turn of the century in France  -  has the same error as described in (B) 
(E) Like the Dreyfus affair in France at the turn of the century - ''like'' can be used to compare 'nouns' or 'noun phrases'. In (E), we have a perfect comparison: the "Dreyfus affair'' is being compared to the ''Sacco-Vanzetti'' trial. there is no error in the structure introduced by (E). Therefore,   (E) is the right answer choice.

MartinUSP · Answer

Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair, the Sacco-Vanzetti trial in 1921 became the political cause of an era.

(B) As it was in France at the turn of the century with the Dreyfus affair
(C) As it was with the Dreyfus affair in France at the turn of the century
(D) As was the Dreyfus at the turn of the century in France

Shouldn't we eliminate B, C and D for using the word "as" to compare two things (affairs), instead of two clauses?

VerbalBot · Answer

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Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair

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Like France at the turn of the century and the Dreyfus affair

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