Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract this year was awarded

The explanation above for D and E is not correct.
There is no such rule about Unlike. See Q32 in the Verbal Review for reference.
D is missing a semicolon before the word instead.
E violates subject-verb agreement by using were instead of was.

D is wrong cause 'instead' is not a conjunction that can join two clauses.
E is wrong cause the plural 'were' doesn't fit with singular 'the contract's bidding'

try to take the perspective of meaning. this help us not remember the grammar rule and this is the way gmat play the sc game.

whenever we see "like", ask yourself, dose two nouns do the same action/verb.

bidding can not be like the contract in that they both are awarded to the firm. "bidding" can not be awarded to the firm.
"contract" can be awarded to the firms logically

with thingking of above point, we can eliminate all the choices except B.

I'm confused on this question. I thought the rule for independent clauses joined by a semi-colon was that each clause can stand on its own. Choice B says "This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost" -- this cannot stand on its own. Am I missing something?

Semi colon joins independent clauses with very closely related ideas. It is not necessary that the two clauses need to be independent sentences.

For example, this sentence is fine:
I was tired; however, I could not fall asleep.

"however" connects the two ideas.

Right, but "I was tired" can stand on its own.

Answer choice B: "This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;"

The above answer does not read as an independent clause and doesn't seem like it can stand alone. Can it?

Good question. The first clause does not seem to be a complete sentence because of the "not simply." It's like this sentence:

She won not only because she practiced; she also tried the hardest.

"she also tried the hardest" can stand on it's own. And if you take out the "not only," "She won because she practiced" can stand alone. But "not only" and "not simply" require an additional reason in the same clause, don't they?

There are two individual ideas connected together.
Note that "however, I could not fall sleep" isn't a stand alone sentence either. It is acceptable with the connecting word because the semi colon links together two separate ideas. Similarly, in the original sentence, semi colon connects two separate ideas. Its use is acceptable.

I see. The second part of the sentence after the semi colon can stand on its own: "the thoroughness of the design submission was also factored into the decision"

So basically a semi colon can join two independent clauses or one independent and one dependent clause (regardless of whether the dependent or independent clause is first)? Is that correct?

This definitely kicks the difficulty of comparison questions up a notch! Great question for people who have the basics of comparisons down and want to try something a bit harder.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; the thoroughness of the design submission was also factored into the decision

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; - This is a comparison error. It compares the previous year's bidding to the contract.

This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; - This is the correct answer. Correctly compares this year to last year.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, this year the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; - Another comparison error. The previous year's bidding compared to this year.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the bidding for the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost, instead - The comparison is corrected here but the comma followed by the word instead creates a run on sentence.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract’s bidding this year were awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; - Incorrectly compares the previous year's bidding to the contract's bidding.

Take Away - Be wary of comparison questions where ownership can be used to muddle what is being compared. If you quickly read "the previous year's bidding" you could easily incorrectly think that it's the year that is being compared to something not the bidding of that year.

Also, a good takeaway is to know what words can be used to link two independent clauses. I originally incorrectly assumed instead was one of these and picked D.

Hello VeritasPrepKarishma,
Though I agree that B is correct, I thought the construction was "not X but Y". Presence of not in the first clause gives an incomplete feeling.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; the thoroughness of the design submission was also factored into the decision

A. Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;

B. This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;
--> correct and concise.

C. Unlike the previous year’s bidding, this year the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;

D. Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the bidding for the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost, instead
--> we need a semicolon, not colon. the contract, not bidding was awarded.

E. Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract’s bidding this year were awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;
-->the contract, not bidding was awarded.

Agree with you on that incomplete feeling. The presence of not only commands but also or but , but the presence of not doesn't command the presence of but. The sentence is simply a negated one which we are not used of seeing often on gmat.

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; the thoroughness of the design submission was also factored into the decision

Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; Wrong comparison
This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; correct comparison and correct
Unlike the previous year’s bidding, this year the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost; Wrong comparison
Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the bidding for the contract this year was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost, instead
Unlike the previous year’s bidding, the contract’s bidding this year were awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;

Hi mikemcgarry, chetan2u, GMATNinja

I am a bit confused here. Doesn't the 1st part of the sentence need to be a complete logical sentence for option B to be correct?
I feel that the first part of the sentence cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Am I missing something?

B is the right answer.
A& C have comparison problems
D&E have a subtle meaning error. They say that the bidding for the contract was awarded instead of saying the contract was awarded.


Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Dear darn,

I'm happy to respond.

My friend, your question was not clear. One of the habits of excellence is putting tremendous effort into the art of crafting high quality questions. See:
Asking Excellent Questions
First of all, asking high quality questions is an important step in your own growth process. Moreover, if you are going to solicit the aid of multiple experts, out of respect for their time you really should make sure that you are asking a perfectly clear question.

Here's (B), which is the entire part of the sentence before the semicolon:
This year, unlike last year, the contract was awarded not simply to the firm offering to complete the work on time for the least cost;

When you say "the first part of the sentence," do you mean
(a) the first part of choice (B)?
(b) the entire part before the semicolon, i.e. all of (B)?

If (a), what do you consider the first part, and why do you think it needs to be a complete sentence?
If (b), then in what way do you feel that it "cannot stand alone as a complete sentence."

My challenge to you is to read that linked blog post and then write the most intelligent and the most thoughtful question you possibly can about this issue.

Does this make sense?
Mike