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555-605 Level|   Comparisons|   Idioms/Diction/Redundancy|   Parallelism|                           
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Hi egmat / CrackverbalGMAT /Experts,
Can you please explain more on the correct usage of idiom "as likely as"? Thank you!

My understanding:

1. Compare 2 objects/subjects A and B.
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail
with ellipsis:
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail

Eg in this sentence: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as [they are to exceed] the current speed limit

2. Compare 2 actions X and Y
A is as likely to do X as A is to do Y
with Ellipsis:
A is as likely to do X as (A is to do) Y

Eg: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as they are [to exceed] the current speed limit
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Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

Meaning intended: Drivers are as likely/ equally likely TO do something as they did before. Use of 'will' makes the meaning murky as the sentence is trying to show the intension of drivers and not a prediction. She's likely to make a mistake vs She likely will make a mistake. Eliminate C and D.

(A) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as - Comparison error as 'drivers likely to exceed limit' are compared to 'current speed limit'

(B) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are - This is better as 'drivers likely to exceed limit' compared to 'they are (likely) to the current one'. We keep this on the table and look for other issues.

(C) equally likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(D) as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(E) as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are - 'drivers as likely to' compared to 'they are (likely) to' . Good. Now the only difference between B and E is 'equally likely AS' vs 'AS likely AS'. Idiomatically as likely as is better. Select E
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Hi egmat / CrackverbalGMAT /Experts,
Can you please explain more on the correct usage of idiom "as likely as"? Thank you!

My understanding:

1. Compare 2 objects/subjects A and B.
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail
with ellipsis:
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail

Eg in this sentence: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as [they are to exceed] the current speed limit

2. Compare 2 actions X and Y
A is as likely to do X as A is to do Y
with Ellipsis:
A is as likely to do X as (A is to do) Y

Eg: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as they are [to exceed] the current speed limit

Hello Ananabanana,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your understanding is,indeed, broadly correct here.

Kudos.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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Ananabanana
Hi egmat / CrackverbalGMAT /Experts,
Can you please explain more on the correct usage of idiom "as likely as"? Thank you!

My understanding:

1. Compare 2 objects/subjects A and B.
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail
with ellipsis:
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail

Eg in this sentence: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as [they are to exceed] the current speed limit

2. Compare 2 actions X and Y
A is as likely to do X as A is to do Y
with Ellipsis:
A is as likely to do X as (A is to do) Y

Eg: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as they are [to exceed] the current speed limit

Hello Ananabanana,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your understanding is,indeed, broadly correct here.

Kudos.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi ExpertsGlobal5
Thank you for your response.

When I look at this structure, I still feel like something is not so right.
Why is it " B is to fail"? Because "is" should be followed by an adjective rather than a "to Verb".

Should the full form of this comparison structure be written as below? Is this correct?

A is as likely to fail as B is likely to fail

A is as likely to do X as A is likely to do Y

And incase of ellipsis, any duplicated words in this full format structure can be omitted and the sentence is still correct?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you!
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Ananabanana
Hi egmat / CrackverbalGMAT /Experts,
Can you please explain more on the correct usage of idiom "as likely as"? Thank you!

My understanding:

1. Compare 2 objects/subjects A and B.
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail
with ellipsis:
A is as likely to fail as B is to fail

Eg in this sentence: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as [they are to exceed] the current speed limit

2. Compare 2 actions X and Y
A is as likely to do X as A is to do Y
with Ellipsis:
A is as likely to do X as (A is to do) Y

Eg: The driver will as likely to exceed the new speed limit as they are [to exceed] the current speed limit

Hello Ananabanana,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your understanding is,indeed, broadly correct here.

Kudos.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi ExpertsGlobal5
Thank you for your response.

When I look at this structure, I still feel like something is not so right.
Why is it " B is to fail"? Because "is" should be followed by an adjective rather than a "to Verb".

Should the full form of this comparison structure be written as below? Is this correct?

A is as likely to fail as B is likely to fail

A is as likely to do X as A is likely to do Y

And incase of ellipsis, any duplicated words in this full format structure can be omitted and the sentence is still correct?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you!

Hello Ananabanana,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the comparison marker here is the phrase "as likely", so the adjective "likely" does not need to be repeated; it is understood that how likely the comparison between the events is in terms of their likelihood.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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hI GMATNinja, ExpertsGlobal5,
My query is regarding the following
OAs in the OGs:
Its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted.
Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last.
Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are the current ine.

In the aforementioned OAs, how can one determine parallelism in case of omissions? Should one memorize certain rules(and if so, please provide them) or is memorizing such parallel OAs
helpful?
Sadly, looking for patterns in answer choices and trying to come up with black-and-white rules usually backfires. The questions you've referenced have some similarities, but each is different in important ways -- just because a construction works in one correct answer choice doesn't mean that construction is always correct. And just because a construction doesn't work in an incorrect answer choice doesn't mean that it's always wrong. That's why comparing sentences from different problems is rarely productive.

That's particularly true with comparison questions. I'd love to say that there are some useful rules for comparisons, but there are few, if any, rules that apply universally to all GMAT SC comparisons.

Yes, certain grammar rules can be important and valuable on SC. But once you've eliminated choices that have DEFINITE errors, you have to think really hard about the differences in meaning among the remaining choices and determine which choice is the best among the ones you're given. That part is difficult and unsatisfying, and memorizing an ever-growing list of esoteric grammar rules won't help much, especially for comparisons.

For more on that, check out the our SC guide for beginners or this rant about how to improve from great (760) to incredible (780!) on SC. For more on comparisons, you could start with this video or this one.

I hope that helps a bit!
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ritjn2003
Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.


(A) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as

(B) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are

(C) equally likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(D) as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(E) as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are


Traffic Safety Officials

(A) Comparison (equally likely)

(B) Comparison (equally likely)

(C) Comparison (equally likely that)

(D) Comparison (as likely that)

(E) CORRECT

First glance

The underline starts with either equally likely or as likely. The wording signals some kind of comparison.

Issues

(1) Comparison: equally likely (that); as likely that

Which is the proper form for this sentence, equally likely or as likely?

Equally likely can be used in this form: Priti and Ahmad are equally likely to succeed on the test. In this example, the two members of the comparison are grouped together: they are both equally likely to do something.

As likely is used in this form: Priti is as likely to perform well on the test as Ahmad is. In this form, the comparison is split into a more classic structure: X is as likely (to do something) as Y is.

All five answer choices use the second as, so the correct comparison idiom is as likely as. Eliminate choices (A), (B), and (C).

The answer choices also split between that and to:

equally likely (that / to)

as likely (that / to)

In both cases, the correct comparison idiom uses the word to, not the word that. Eliminate choices (C) and (D).

The Correct Answer

Correct answer (E) uses the proper comparison idiom as likely to X as Y.

My approach was as follows,

1) Read the question stem and understood that the comparison is between the 'likelihood of drivers breaking speed limit' - so comparison has to include a subject that indicates the drivers
> This eliminates A, C & D

2) Noticed the only remaining difference to be 'as-likely-as vs equally-likely-as' - 'As-likely-as' is a preferred comparison syntax in GMAT
> This eliminates B

Disclaimer :
1) I knew the choice between as-likely-as vs equally-likely-as, but it is a preference, so I chose to eliminate on some concrete rule first.
2) In case you were not aware of the choice between as-likely-as vs equally-likely-as, there are 2 ways to go forward:
-----(i) Now you know, so add it in your notes
-----(ii) Follow the GMATNinja approach and not remember any rules but look for meaning and eliminates basis that.
(I love this approach and partly use this in my strategy. But while solving, as of now, I do not feel very confident to eliminate only with this strategy. So, I choose to remember a few things)
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Quote:
Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

(A) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as
(B) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are
(C) equally likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as
(D) as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as
(E) as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are
Hi experts,
Can I just say that choice A, B, and C are wrong as adverb (equally) modifies adverb (likely) in wrong way?
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Quote:
Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

(A) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as
(B) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are
(C) equally likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as
(D) as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as
(E) as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are
Hello RonPurewal,
Hope you are wall in this pandemic. I was your course student once upon a time. In one of our LIVE classes you said that if we've 2 versions (e.g., 'equally likely' and 'as likely') then one version is definitely wrong! As 'as likely' is the correct choice in this case, can we surely say that 'equally likely' is written in wrong way?
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1. WHy is equally likely wrong?
2. How are we so confident that chocie A is not using ellipsis? How are we just saying theres wrong comparison b/w noun phrase and clause?
A- equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as (is likely to exceed) the current one

3. What would be a correct usage of equally likely?

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Elite097
1. WHy is equally likely wrong?
2. How are we so confident that chocie A is not using ellipsis? How are we just saying theres wrong comparison b/w noun phrase and clause?
A- equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as (is likely to exceed) the current one
Here's the (A) version:

Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

Quote:
How are we so confident that chocie A is not using ellipsis?
Let's go with the theory that the (A) version is using ellipsis and place the elided portion into the sentence.

Here's one way to do so.

Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as (to exceed) the current one.

That sentence isn't logical. Notice that, even if "equally likely ... as" worked, the sentence would be saying that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed and current speed limits IN THE FUTURE.

In other words, it says "drivers will be x," with X being equally likely to exceed the proposed and current speed limits.

Notice that doesn't make sense to compare how likely drivers will be to exceed the proposed limit with how likely they will be to exceed the current one. After all, they ALREADY HAVE a particular likelihood of exceeding the current one. So, it doesn't make sense to discuss how likely they "will be." After all, the current speed limit exists in the present, not in the future.

So, we can see that the ellipsis doesn't work.

Quote:
3. What would be a correct usage of equally likely?

Traffic safety officials say that drivers in Ohio and Georgia are equally likely to speed.
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I find it difficult to understand how in choice E the last part "as they are" fit with the rest...
"...as they are the current one" sounds super weird. shouldn't we add "with"
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I find it difficult to understand how in choice E the last part "as they are" fit with the rest...
"...as they are the current one" sounds super weird. shouldn't we add "with"

Hey Joe

Happy to help you with this.

    E: Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are the current one.


Now, if we insert the omitted words we get the following:

    Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are (likely to exceed) the current one.


This is known as Ellipsis in Comparisons. As per this concept, repetitive words in comparative clauses must be omitted. So, if you wish to make sense of such clauses, simply insert the omitted words and you'll be able to derive the meaning easily enough.

Here's a link for more information: Ellipsis in Comparison.

I hope this helps.

Happy learning!

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I find it difficult to understand how in choice E the last part "as they are" fit with the rest...
"...as they are the current one" sounds super weird. shouldn't we add "with"

Hello joe123x,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, in comparisons repeated verbs can be omitted for the sake of conciseness, so Option E should be read as "as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are (likely to exceed) the current one".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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All the options are grammatically correct, but some are more concise and clear than others.

Option (A) is missing a pronoun to clarify who is equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit, so it is unclear and potentially ambiguous.

Option (B) is more clear because it includes the pronoun "they" to clarify that it is the drivers who are equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit.

Option (C) includes the phrase "equally likely that they will," which is unnecessarily wordy.

Option (D) is concise and clear, but it could be improved by adding the pronoun "they" to make it more explicit.

Option (E) is the most concise and clear of all the options, as it includes the necessary pronoun and is grammatically correct.

Therefore, option (E) is the best choice: "Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are the current one."
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Hi,

While I agree that (e) is the best available option.

As likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the are to the current one.

Don't we require to before the current one to make the sentence parallel?
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Gprabhumir
Hi,

While I agree that (e) is the best available option.

As likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the are to the current one.

Don't we require to before the current one to make the sentence parallel?
Hi Gprabhumir,

There are two important points to keep in mind here:

1. Adding another to can be a way to make the meaning clearer (but it may not be required)
2. Ellipsis can lead to many, many (possibly) unexpected structures
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