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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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the automobile company's severance package is unlike most severance packages, in that it is available to workers even if they find a new job before they are terminated, but others require workers to stay until the last they are scheduled to work in order to collect.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison

• A comparison must always be made between similar things.

A: This answer choice incorrectly compares "most severance packages" to "workers at the automobile company"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.

B: This answer choice incorrectly compares "most severance packages" to "workers"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "the last day they are scheduled to collect"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that most severance packages require workers to stay until the last day that they are scheduled for the specific purpose of collecting their severance package; the intended meaning is that most severance packages require workers to stay until the last day they are scheduled to work in order to collect their severance package.

C: This answer choice incorrectly compares "most severance packages" to "the automobile company"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.

D: Correct. This answer choice correctly compares "most severance packages" with "the automobile company's severance package". Further, Option D uses the phrase "their last scheduled day in order to collect", conveying the intended meaning - that most severance packages require workers to stay until the last day they are scheduled to work in order to collect their severance package.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "the last day they are scheduled to collect"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that most severance packages require workers to stay until the last day that they are scheduled for the specific purpose of collecting their severance package; the intended meaning is that most severance packages require workers to stay until the last day they are scheduled to work in order to collect their severance package.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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There certainly are typos here: first, the "until" should not be underlined, and second, both 4 and 5 should end with "workers". Let's reanalyze the problem with these corrections in mind.

GMAX Tip #1: When a sentence starts with "Like X / Unlike X / In contrast to X / Compared to X" you are getting a gift from the GMAT gods! The subject that starts the main clause must be the person/thing that you compare to X. This is, indeed, what should send you straight to 4 and 5.

GMAX Tip #2: Never blindly eyeball for grammatical rules! Your most important task is to understand the intended meaning.

In this case, workers need to stay until their last scheduled day so that they can collect ("in order to collect") their severance. The intended meaning is to express cause and result.

If this helped, kindly give Kudos!
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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".

I think I got a parallel example -

"the time that we were scheduled to meet"

Is parallel to


the last day that they are scheduled to collect -----> it means workers collect the last day

I change my answer to D

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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The real problem with choice E involves clarity: 'the last day that they are scheduled to collect' means, literally, that the workers collect days, and that they are to wait until the last day that they're allowed to rip off the calendar, place in their backpacks, and take home to the kids. that doesn't make a lot of sense. never forget that you are to read the sentences very literally, like a robot, and that you are not under any conditions to use 'common sense' to justify improper, inaccurate, or ambiguous wording.
-Ron

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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Can you elaborate more on red-highlighted portion?

Many thanks!

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.

I would go with option D.

(A) the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package
incorrectly compares severence package to the workers.
(B) the last day they are scheduled to collect, workers are eligible for the automobile company's severance package
same as A
(C) their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers
incorrectly compares severence package to the automobile company
(D) their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers
correct[i][/i]
(E) the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers
that incorrectly refers to the last day.[i][/i]

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

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 (Wrong comparison of severance package with worker)
(B) the last day they are scheduled to collect, workers are eligible for the automobile company's severance package (Same as A)
(C) their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers (Wrong comparison of severance package with the company)
(D) their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers (correct)
(E) the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers (changes the meaning of sentence)

Kudos please if you like my explanation!

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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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-> "most severance packages" should compare with "some package", not "workers". Incorrect.

(B) the last day they are scheduled to collect, workers are eligible for the automobile company's severance package -> "most severance packages" should compare with "some package", not "workers". Incorrect.

(C) their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers -> "most severance packages" should compare with "some package", not "the automobile company ". Incorrect.

(D) their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers-> comparison is correct. "their last scheduled day" is modifying workers. It makes sense. Let's keep it.

(E) the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company's severance package is available to workers-> "they are scheduled to collect" is changing the meaning. It is talking about payslip. Incorrect.

So, I think D.

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.

This one is a gem but a painful one.
the initial non underline phrase talks about packages. The subject of Independent clause shall be packages.


Wrong comparison between package and workers


same as A


Same as A


Correct comparison. And now comes the hard part.


Same as D

Now between D and E.
E says Workers were scheduled to collect and not on the scheduled day of work.
Its up to the meaning now.

D clearly says that workers need to wait till their last scheduled day of work agreement to collect their money.
D wins.
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I was between E and D here and this sentence made no sense whatsoever to me:

"most severance packages... require workers to stay until their last scheduled day in order to collect."

In order to collect what?

At first I just could not get anything of relevance out of the term "severance package". It just made me think of the movie "Deliverance" (quite close to "severance") and as of a sudden I was in the woods. I realised though I was far off track and instead made a connection to "severe" as if the workers had been injured. Non-native gone wild.

A Straight forward comparison split "severance packages" compared with automobile company's severance package D >> best conveys the intended message.

Answer (E) is problematic as a result of the illogical meaning caused by the grammar and usage.

Issue: The meaning conveyed by the relative clause as a result of word placement

Concept: when a relative pronoun refers to the antecedent noun as a direct object, the relative clause is required to have its own Subject noun.

Many times, the signal showing that this concept is being tested is one of the following constructions immediately following the antecedent noun / noun phrase:

(Preposition) + WHICH + (subject noun of relative clause)

“at which (noun)” ; “for which (noun)” ; “during which (noun)” ; etc.

It also may occur when the relative pronoun “that” is used to restrictively modify the noun.

(Referent Noun) + THAT + (subject noun of relative clause)

In both cases, a SUBJECT follows the relative pronoun (either “which” or “that”) and the referent noun functions as an OBJECT within the modifying relative clause.

Quoting the relevant part of E:

“… (most severance packages) require workers to stay until the last day THAT they are required to collect….

The noun phrase + modifier:

….”the last day THAT they (= workers) are required to collect…”

The following are sentences that include a similar modification:

(1) I must pick up the car THAT you graciously bought me.

(2) The rate AT WHICH your children continue to grow is astonishing.

In (1) and (2), the relative clause is functioning as a noun modifier of the preceding noun: “car” and “rate”, respectively.

Just as importantly, in each case, the referent noun functions as a DIRECT OBJECT of the tensed verb within the relative clause in (1) and and object of the preposition in (2).

One should be able to change this type of “inverted” structure and have a logical clause, such as:

(1) You graciously bought me THE CAR.

(2) Your children continue to grow AT THE RATE.

If you look at the end of the noun modifier in answer E, conspicuous by its absence is exactly WHAT the workers are “scheduled to collect.”

If this implied term were something such as “paycheck”, then the workers would be collecting the paycheck ON the last day. (see below)

(II) ….. until the last day THAT they are scheduled to collect…..

Since the relative pronoun “that” is used and not a (preposition) + (relative pronoun) type of structure such as “on which,” the reference to “last day” is as a DIRECT OBJECT of the verb and we have:

(II) they are scheduled to collect THE LAST DAY.

——-> an illogical clause

If “paycheck” were in fact the intended but omitted direct object of the relative clause, the structure might follow something such as:

(iii) …..the last day ON WHICH they are scheduled to collect a paycheck….

—-where “on which” refers to “last day” as an object of the prepositional phrase.

The clause would be read as:

(III) They are scheduled to collect a paycheck ON THE LAST DAY.

However, we do not have such a structure in answer E. This is why it is not possible, given the word usage and grammar, to read this sentence as conveying the meaning that the workers must stay until the last paycheck is collected.

Instead, what results from the word choice and placement is a nonsensical meaning.

(E)……. the last day THAT they are scheduled to collect….

(E-restructured) They are scheduled to collect THE LAST DAY.

Obviously, workers can not collect a day.

For this reason, E is inappropriate.

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