This one is a classic. There's some very low-hanging fruit with the comparison... and then some really gnarly meaning stuff that most people struggle with. So if you missed this one, you're definitely not alone!

As a starting point, that phrase "unlike most severance packages" should absolutely jump off the page at you. It's followed by a phrase that modifies "packages", but then that phrase must be followed by something that can logically be compared with "most severance packages"...


... and (A) doesn't have anything that can logically be compared with "most severance packages." Literally, this is comparing "most severance packages" with "workers at the automobile company." So (A) is out.


This has exactly the same comparison problem as in (A). So (B) is out, too.


Well, the comparison is different in this one, but it's still wrong: "unlike most severance packages... the automobile company..." Nope, that doesn't make any sense, either. We can eliminate (C).

And the fun stops there.



The comparison is just fine in both of these: "unlike most severance packages... the automobile company's severance package..." No problem.

So the only difference between (D) and (E) is that first part of the underlined portion, and we have to be literal as all hell about figuring out what, exactly, each of them means. In (D), we have: "most severance packages... require workers to stay until their last scheduled day in order to collect." That seems OK, I guess. "Their last schedule day" presumably refers to the workers' last scheduled day of work -- and that makes perfect sense.

But in (E), we have "most severance packages... require workers to stay until the last day that they are scheduled to collect." Literally, this seems to be saying that workers have to stay until the last day that they are scheduled to collect their paychecks -- not necessarily the last day that they're scheduled to work.

It's miserably subtle, but (E) doesn't make as much sense as (D). Nasty!
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D for me

Only D and E have correct comparison between "severance packages"
However, in E, you have the following:
"Severance packages require workers to stay until the last day that they are scheduled to collect"
The bold part modifies "last day", and it sounds like workers are collecting the "last day".

Unlike most severance packages, which require workers to stay until the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package even if they find a new job before they are terminated.

D. their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers
E. the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers

We can ignore the second phrase in these answer choices, since they're identical, so basically it's down to:

D. their last scheduled day in order to collect,
E. the last day that they are scheduled to collect,

E. changes the meaning of the original sentence, where there is causality/necessity between the workers staying until the last scheduled day as a prerequisite to collecting their severance packages. E combines these two and creates a new day entirely, which is "the last day that they are scheduled to collect", without any mention of having to stay "in order to" (answer choice D.) and we lose the intended meaning.

Hope that helps, let me know if you need me to clarify anything!
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Unlike most severance packages, which require workers to stay until the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package even if they find a new job before they are terminated.

(A) the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package
(B) the last day they are scheduled to collect, workers are eligible for the automobile company's severance package
(C) their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers
(D) their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers
(E) the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers
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This question tests the usage of UNLIKE X, Y . Kindly note 2 imp points for such use-
1) Both X & Y should be grammatically parallel i.e In this case both X & Y should be NOUN
2) Both X & Y should be be logically parallel i.e. Apple should be compared with a Apple only and with an Orange.

Now combing back to question..
X = Most Severance Package
Y = Not given, but it should be Severance Package of some company in order to fulfill condition (2).
A) Incorrect since we are comparing Apple (X) with an Orange ( Y = worker)
B) Incorrect since we are comparing Apple (X) with an Orange ( Y = worker)
C) Incorrect since we are comparing Apple (X) with an Orange ( Y = Automobile Company)
D) Correct since we are comparing Apple (X) with an Apple ( Y = Automobile Company's Severance Package)
E) Though we are comparing Apple (X) with an Apple ( Y = Automobile Company's Severance Package), neither it is possible nor it makes any sense for worker to COLLECT any day of the week.

Option D

1. Incorrect comparison error in option A, B and c and so we can eliminate them. This narrows down to option D and E
2. Option E is incorrect based on "the last day that they are scheduled to collect" changes the meaning of the sentence

That leaves us with option D

Hello Rag1217,

You have hit the nail on the head by identifying the exact error in each answer choice. Well done and keep up the great job.

However, I would just like to let you know that your analysis for Choice E is not entirely correct.

Indeed, the structure the last day that they are scheduled to collect is problematic in Choice E.

However, this choice does not suggest that the last day is scheduled to collect.

Please note that the noun modifier that is followed by they = workers. So this choice implies that the workers workers are scheduled to collect the last day. This most definitely does not make any sense.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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margarette Narrowed down between D and E.

My understanding is that D is suggesting the workers must stay till the last scheduled day to collect severance. Whereas E is suggesting the workers must stay till the last scheduled day to collect the severance of the last day?

Is this the correct understanding of the difference in the two choices?