Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 08:39 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 08:39
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,272
Own Kudos:
37,392
 [6]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,272
Kudos: 37,392
 [6]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
avatar
jessiemjx
Joined: 30 Aug 2020
Last visit: 04 Jun 2021
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
56
 [2]
Given Kudos: 39
Posts: 36
Kudos: 56
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
TarunKumar1234
Joined: 14 Jul 2020
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 1,107
Own Kudos:
1,349
 [1]
Given Kudos: 351
Location: India
Posts: 1,107
Kudos: 1,349
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,272
Own Kudos:
37,392
 [2]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,272
Kudos: 37,392
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)



Quote:
Unlike the Washington Monument, the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of being taller.


A) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of [its] being taller

B) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument’s structure is not comprised entirely of stone, despite [ITS] being taller

C) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller

D) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller

E) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in addition to [its] being taller
• Split #1: compare similar things

The word unlike is a preposition and acts in the same way as the word like does.
In the idiom Unlike X, Y, the X- and Y-element must be parallel.
Unlike signals a comparison (a contrast) whose elements must be parallel.

In this case, on three occasions, the Washington Monument is compared to the structure of the San Jacinto Monument.

Options A, B, and D incorrectly compare the Washington Monument to the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument.
→ we can compare monument to monument or structure to structure, but not one of each.

Eliminate A, B, and D

• Split #2: the transition word should show contrast

We need a contrasting "shift" word after "the S.J. Monument is not comprised entirely of stone."
In addition to is a long way to say and.
The point of the sentence is to show contrast: unlike is one of GMAT writers' favorite ways to signal contrast.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is C.

NOTES

This sentence does not strike me as terribly logical.
The Washington Monument is composed entirely of stone.
The S.J. Monument is not composed entirely of stone, although the S.U. Monument is taller. (?)
Does being made of stone typically make a building taller?

→ the although part is tenuous
→ I am not a civil engineer. At all. But why would something not made of stone be shorter than (not be taller than) something that IS made entirely of stone?

If you found yourself stuck between C and E and unable to decide which logic should carry the day, perhaps you remembered that concision is an issue.
The phrase in addition to is unnecessarily long.

COMMENTS

neelanjan ,welcome to SC Butler.

These answers, whether ultimately correct, are well-reasoned.

jessiemjx and TarunKumar1234 , I am bumping you both to Best Community Reply.

Nicely done, everyone.
User avatar
ramlala
Joined: 22 Aug 2020
Last visit: 13 Dec 2022
Posts: 469
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 30
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Finance
GPA: 4
WE:Project Management (Energy)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
generis

Unlike the Washington Monument, the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of being taller.


A) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of being taller

B) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument’s structure is not comprised entirely of stone, despite being taller

C) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller

D) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller

E) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in addition to being taller

Comparison shall be between the Washington Monument and the San Jacinto Memorial Monument: Eliminate A, B & D

Between C & E, we have to choose constrast. that eliminates E

IMO C
User avatar
DinoPen
Joined: 02 Jul 2019
Last visit: 09 Jun 2023
Posts: 256
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 200
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GMAT 1: 630 Q48 V28
GMAT 2: 640 Q48 V28
Products:
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It was between C and E for me.

I took out A, B, and D since you want to compare 2 different monuments, not a monument and a 'structure'.

The reason why I chose E over C was that I did not like the pronoun 'it', which could refer to either the Washington Monument or the San Jacinto Memorial Monument.

IMO E.
avatar
neelanjan
Joined: 08 Jan 2019
Last visit: 28 Feb 2022
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 96
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It's between C and D, rest are crossed off because of Noun modifier issue. We can't compare Washington monument to a structure.

IMO it's C because, it correctly refers to the singular noun, the San Jacinto Memorial Monument, and the phrasing in E, in addition to being taller, sounds fishy to my ears. Maybe not the correct Idiom.
User avatar
winterschool
User avatar
Verbal Chat Moderator
Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,891
Own Kudos:
1,657
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,681
Posts: 1,891
Kudos: 1,657
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Unlike the Washington Monument, the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of being taller.


A) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in spite of being taller Incorrect

comparison error - Monument compare with structure

B) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument’s structure is not comprised entirely of stone, despite being taller Incorrect

comparison error - Monument compare with structure

C) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller Correct

D) the structure of the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, although it is taller Incorrect

comparison error - Monument compare with structure

E) the San Jacinto Memorial Monument is not comprised entirely of stone, in addition to being taller Incorrect

in addition to - changes meaning, 'although' is closer to 'in spite of'
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,272
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,272
Kudos: 37,392
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The official explanation is here.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,834
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,834
Kudos: 986
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts