Last visit was: 01 May 2026, 13:58 It is currently 01 May 2026, 13:58
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
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
15,316
 [4]
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
 [4]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
rohitchayal
Joined: 30 Jul 2019
Last visit: 13 Oct 2020
Posts: 47
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 40
Posts: 47
Kudos: 12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
rohit8865
Joined: 05 Mar 2015
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 815
Own Kudos:
1,008
 [2]
Given Kudos: 45
Products:
Posts: 815
Kudos: 1,008
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Same Good Kid
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Last visit: 11 Jan 2020
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V38
GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V38
Posts: 39
Kudos: 7
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Marked A.
Has the correct parallel structure for “not as .... but as”.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The Dust Bowl was the result of frequent deep plowing followed by an extensive drought and high winds, but many agriculturists view it not as a senseless tragedy, but as an opportunity to develop cultivation methods with less impact on the topsoil.

A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but


A quick scan of the options blasts the idiom “not ___, but ___.” This is a classic idiom, which means it follows a strict structure, and parallelism in these types of contrasting idioms is always critical.

After reading the sentence carefully, the original sentence seems to contain a correct idiomatic match. Let’s review the other options.

Options D and E place the “as” in front of the “not,” but the “as” follows the “but” in Option D and there is no second “as” in Option E. Neither of these display parallel structure, so they cannot be the correct answers.

Options B and C use “rather” in place of or in addition to “but.” While “but rather” is an idiom, it is not used with “not only” (Option C), and in this situation, “rather” cannot stand on its own in this contrasting statement (Option B) and would need to be “but rather.”

Neither Options B nor C use the idiom correctly, so Option A is the best answer.
User avatar
LoneSurvivor
Joined: 23 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Jul 2021
Posts: 294
Own Kudos:
778
 [1]
Given Kudos: 156
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V33
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V33
Posts: 294
Kudos: 778
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
+1 A


The Dust Bowl was the result of frequent deep plowing followed by an extensive drought and high winds, but many agriculturists view it not as a senseless tragedy, but as an opportunity to develop cultivation methods with less impact on the topsoil.

Not.......But is Correct Idiom

Quote:
A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as

Correct, Not....But has been used correctly

Quote:
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather

Not as....Rather is not Correct Idiom

Quote:
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as

Not only as......Rather as is not Parallel

Quote:
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as

as not....but as not parallel

Quote:
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but

As not ....but an is not correct
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rohitchayal
The correct idiom is “ Not X but Y” where X and Y should be parallel that cancels out B and C in option D, X and Y are not parallel E skews the meaning which leave us with option A which uses the correct idiom and in which X and Y are parallel.

A is the correct option

Posted from my mobile device

Well done, rohitchayal! You cracked the parallelism problems in this question!
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rohit8865
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
The Dust Bowl was the result of frequent deep plowing followed by an extensive drought and high winds, but many agriculturists view it not as a senseless tragedy, but as an opportunity to develop cultivation methods with less impact on the topsoil.

A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but


48 Hour Window To Win An $85 EMPOWERgmat Tuition Credit (1 Month Free!)
Share your explanation! The GMAT Club member with the most verified Kudos in total on the 5 question SC Block 1 question pack will win an $85 EMPOWERgmat tuition credit, which will entitle the winner to a full month of complete access to the EMPOWERgmat system. Even if you're not sure about your answer or your rationale, share your explanation to help boost your learning and earn a chance to win.

To be eligible, your explanation must:
    be submitted within the 48 hour window after this post was created
    should explain your reasoning why the answer you chose is correct, and why the other 4 options are incorrect within 48 hours of this post

The OA and official explanation will be held until the 48 hour window has lapsed.

Correct idiom ..Not X, But Y

A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as---Correct
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as-----Not parallel
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but-----Not parallel


Ans A

Well done, rohit8865! You cracked the parallelism problem with this question! Kudos to you!
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Same Good Kid
Marked A.
Has the correct parallel structure for “not as .... but as”.

Posted from my mobile device

Well done, @Same_Good_Kid! You cracked the parallelism problem!
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
User avatar
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 17 Feb 2025
Posts: 1,685
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 766
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,685
Kudos: 15,316
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
LoneSurvivor
+1 A


The Dust Bowl was the result of frequent deep plowing followed by an extensive drought and high winds, but many agriculturists view it not as a senseless tragedy, but as an opportunity to develop cultivation methods with less impact on the topsoil.

Not.......But is Correct Idiom

Quote:
A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as

Correct, Not....But has been used correctly

Quote:
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather

Not as....Rather is not Correct Idiom

Quote:
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as

Not only as......Rather as is not Parallel

Quote:
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as

as not....but as not parallel

Quote:
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but

As not ....but an is not correct

Well done, LoneSurvivor!

You cracked the parallelism problems with this question, and I like the way you showed how you came to your conclusion!

Kudos to you!
User avatar
fauji
User avatar
IIM School Moderator
Joined: 05 Jan 2015
Last visit: 15 Jun 2021
Posts: 375
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 214
Status:So far only Dreams i have!!
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
Products:
Posts: 375
Kudos: 428
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Approach:

Parallelism Based Problem

A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as - Perfect Parallel, correct one.
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather - Correct Idiom is NOT X... BUT Y, Usage of Rather is incorrect.
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as - but rather is incorrect, we can't use But and Rather together. + Incorrect idiom.
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as - Parallelism error, "as" is placed incorrectly.
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but... - Parallelism error, "as" is missing in the 2nd part of sentence.

Option A it is!!


EMPOWERgmatVerbal
Pack 1, Question 2
The Dust Bowl was the result of frequent deep plowing followed by an extensive drought and high winds, but many agriculturists view it not as a senseless tragedy, but as an opportunity to develop cultivation methods with less impact on the topsoil.

A. not as a senseless tragedy, but as
B. not as a senseless tragedy, rather
C. not only as a senseless tragedy, but rather as
D. as not a senseless tragedy, but as
E. as not a senseless tragedy, but

◀ Pack 1, Question 1
▶ Pack 1, Question 3

⏏ Question Pack Home


48 Hour Window To Win An $85 EMPOWERgmat Tuition Credit (1 Month Free!)
Share your explanation! The GMAT Club member with the most verified Kudos in total on the 5 question SC Pack 1 will win an $85 EMPOWERgmat tuition credit, which will entitle the winner to a full month of complete access to the EMPOWERgmat system. Even if you're not sure about your answer or your rationale, share your explanation to help boost your learning and earn a chance to win.

To be eligible, your explanation must:
    •be submitted within the 48 hour window after this post was created
    •should explain your reasoning why the answer you chose is correct, and why the other 4 options are incorrect within 48 hours of this post

The OA and official explanation will be held until the 48 hour window has lapsed.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,432
Own Kudos:
Posts: 19,432
Kudos: 1,010
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
513 posts
363 posts