Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account,

Question

Although not quite as liquid an investment as  a money-market account, financial experts recommend a certificate of deposit for its high yield.

A. Although not quite as liquid an investment as

B. Although it is not quite as liquid an investment as

C. While not being quite as liquid an investment as

D. While it is not quite as liquid as an investment

E. Although not quite liquid an investment as

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Here’s How to Crack It

Go through your checklist. Is there a pronoun in this sentence? Yes, the third to last word of the sentence is a pronoun, but it clearly refers back to the certificate of deposit. False alarm. Does the sentence begin with a modifying phrase? Yes. Now we’re getting warmer. Check to see whether the modifying phrase modifies what it’s supposed to modify. Does  although not quite as liquid an investment…  refer to financial experts? No. This is a misplaced modifier.

The clearest way to fix this sentence would be to change the noun that follows the modifying phrase:

Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account, a certificate of deposit is recommended by financial experts for its high yield.

However, you can’t fix this sentence that way for the very good reason that only the first phrase of the sentence was underlined. This time, you’ll have to find a way to fix the modifying phrase itself. Look for an answer choice that changes the modifying phrase into an adverbial clause with its own subject and verb.

Choices A, C, and E do not have subjects and therefore can be eliminated immediately. Choices B and D each have a subject—in both cases, the word it turns the modifying phrase into an adverbial clause. However, choice D contains a new error: The word as has been moved, leaving money-market stranded in the middle of the sentence with no function. While it may sound atrocious,  choice B is the “best” answer.

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (B) . It took me 54 seconds.

In A, C, and E, no logical subject is provided in modifiers, so the subject of the main clause , "financial experts", should work as logical subject for A, C, E. Because "financial experts" are not "an investment", A, E, and E can be eliminated.

Between (B) and (D), (1) "although" is better than "while" because "while" can be ambiguous. (2) "quite  as  liquid  as  an investment  as  a money-market account" cannot be right with three "as".

Fighter1095 · Answer

As X as Y

X,Y should be parallel

Investment's liquidity is compared with Money-market account.

we need a subject for Although ...... otherwise , it can modify and compare financial experts

Only B wins in comparison and subject issue

AntrikshR · Answer

Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account, financial experts recommend a certificate of deposit for its high yield.

What is not quite as liquid an investment as money market account? Financial experts? NO! A is out

B. Although it is not quite as liquid an investment as
There is something (it) which is not quite as liquid an investment as money market account. Hmm what can the singular 'it' refers to? financial experts (plural) No....certificate of deposit Yes!
So, intended meaning is "Although the certificate of deposit is not quite an liquid investment as money market account is, the financial experts recommends certificate of deposits for it's high yield". Correct.

C. While not being quite as liquid an investment as
--What is not 'being' quite as liquid an investment?
--Use of being is wrong more over it's not clear what is not quite as liquid investment.

D. While it is not quite as liquid as an investment
--Lol...what is not quite as liquid

Change of meaning + why are you comparing liquid with an investment

E. Although not quite liquid an investment as
--What is not quite liquid an investment? what are you trying to compare with money market account?

Change of meaning + why are you comparing liquid with an investment

E. Although not quite liquid an investment as --What is not quite liquid an investment? what are you trying to compare with money market account?

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

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 a certificate of deposit is not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account, but financial experts recommend it for its high yield.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast.
• "while" is used to refer to events taking place simultaneously.
• “as A as B” is a correct, idiomatic usage.
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

A:  Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses "Although not quite...money-market account" to modify "financial experts", illogically implying that the financial experts are not liquid as a money-market account; the intended meaning is that a certificate of deposit is not quite as liquid as an investment as a money-market account; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.

B:   Correct.  This answer choice avoids the modifier error seen in Options A, C, and E, as it uses the clause "Although it is...money-market account" rather than a modifying phrase by including a subject "it"; this usage conveys the intended meaning - that "it" (a certificate of deposit) is not quite as liquid as an investment as a money-market account. Further, Option B correctly uses "Although" to indicate contrast. Additionally, Option B correctly uses the idiomatic construction "as...A ("an investment"l) as B ("a money-market account"). Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C:  This answer choice incorrectly uses "While not quite...money-market account" to modify "financial experts", illogically implying that the financial experts are not liquid as a money-market account; the intended meaning is that a certificate of deposit is not quite as liquid as an investment as a money-market account; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option C incorrectly uses "While" to indicate contrast; please remember, “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast, and "while" is used to refer to events taking place simultaneously. Additionally, Option C needlessly uses the word "being", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

D:  This answer choice incorrectly uses "While" to indicate contrast; please remember, “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast, and "while" is used to refer to events taking place simultaneously.

E:  This answer choice incorrectly uses "Although not quite...money-market account" to modify "financial experts", illogically implying that the financial experts are not liquid as a money-market account; the intended meaning is that a certificate of deposit is not quite as liquid as an investment as a money-market account; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option E fails to maintain the idiomatic construction "as A as B", as it omits the first "as"; please remember, “as A as B” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_5LxK5Bh0

To understand the concept of "Although", "Though", "Despite", and "While" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpOCnhX6o9w

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A. Although not quite as liquid an investment as
it is required to give the right meaning therefore out

B. Although it is not quite as liquid an investment as
THe meaning is perfect therefore let us hang on to it

C. While not being quite as liquid an investment as
being is a huge red flag and distorts the meaning therefore out

D. While it is not quite as liquid as an investment
as is required in the end therefore out

E. Although not quite liquid an investment as
Similar reasoning as A

Therefore IMO B

VerbalBot · Answer

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Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account,

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account,

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