Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumpti

Question

Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumptions about the biomedical constitution of the individual  but the difference is that the former emphasizes  a holistic approach to treatment through the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.

A. but the difference is that the former emphasizes

B. but differs from the former in its emphasis on

C. but differs from the latter in its emphasis on

D. and is different in the former emphasizing

E. but being different from the former, as it emphasizes

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumptions about the biomedical constitution of the individual  but the difference is that the former emphasizes  a holistic approach to treatment through the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.

A. but the difference is that the former emphasizes

Incorrect.

While this answer choice is grammatically correct it is stylistically flawed and redundant. The contrast between the two medical systems is expressed through two separate clauses, although this could be stated more concisely in one clause.

The use of a new subject in the second clause  the difference  ( is that, etc. ) is an awkward way of developing the idea in the second part of the sentence, because we do not know  the difference  between what two items is being described until we reach the words  the former .

This question focuses on teaching you to recognize the difference between proper style and idiomatic expression or awkward and redundant ways of phrasing a sentence. Therefore the answer choices contain only a few grammatical mistakes and more logical mistakes and stylistic flaws.

B. but differs from the former in its emphasis on

Incorrect.

While this answer choice is grammatically correct and concise, it is illogical.

By eliminating the second clause (but the difference is) and using the verb  differs , the corrected sentence creates a concise sentence and correct parallelism with the use of the verbs shares and  differs .

However, since the subject of the sentence is the first noun appearing in the sentence, the corrected sentence is saying that  Osteopathic medicine...differs from the former  (=the first in a list of two). Clearly, it is illogical to say that  Osteopathic medicine...differs  from itself.

This sentence uses the idiom:  A differs from B in C . This idiom describes the characteristic C of A which makes it different from B.

Example: Jane differs from John in her fondness for cats.

Meaning: Jane is fond of cats, but John is not fond of them.

Example: The GMAT differs from the GRE in its focus on business.

Meaning: The GMAT focuses on business, but the GRE does not.

C. but differs from the latter in its emphasis on

This answer choice is grammatically correct, logical and stylistically preferable to all other answer choices.

By eliminating the second clause ( but the difference is ) and using the verb  differs , the corrected sentence creates a concise sentence and correct parallelism with the use of the verbs  shares  and  differs . Although the word  former  is changed to  latter , this answer choice preserves the meaning and logic of the original sentence:  Osteopathic medicine...differs from the latter  (from the second item in the list, i.e.  allopathic medicine ).

This sentence uses the idiom:  A differs from B in C . This idiom describes the characteristic C of A which makes it different from B.

Example: Jane differs from John in her fondness for cats.

Meaning: Jane is fond of cats, but John is not fond of them.

Example: The GMAT differs from the GRE in its focus on business.

Meaning: The GMAT focuses on business, but the GRE does not.

Although this answer choice contains an ambiguity (the pronoun  its  can technically refer to either types of medicine mentioned previously in the sentence), the grammatical correctness, conciseness, clarity, and proper use of the idiom make this answer choice the best one among the rest.

D. and is different in the former emphasizing

Incorrect.

This answer choice is illogical and confusing.

This question focuses on teaching you to recognize the difference between proper style and idiomatic expression or awkward and redundant ways of phrasing a sentence. Therefore the answer choices contain only a few grammatical mistakes and more logical mistakes and stylistic flaws.

Changing  but the difference  to and  is different  confuses the logic of the original sentence which is based on a contrast.

In addition, the corrected sentence is illogical. Since the subject of the corrected sentence is  Osteopathic medicine , it doesn't make sense to say  Osteopathic medicine...is different in the former emphasizing, etc . The correct idiom for expressing difference is x is  different from y . The corrected sentence does not tell us what  Osteopathic medicine  is different  from , but only  how  it is different (it is different  in...emphasizing ).

E. but being different from the former, as it emphasizes

Incorrect.

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and stylistically flawed. By changing  the difference is  to  being different  the second clause (beginning after  but ) becomes a fragment which lacks a conjugated verb. Since what comes before the word  but  is a clause, what follows should also be a clause, thus there is also a parallelism problem.

In addition,  being  is an awkward expression that is often incorrect on the GMAT.

NawalDwivedi · Answer

A is correct imo.
in B and C the word, its  creates ambiguity.
D and E look weird.

PyjamaScientist · Answer

No.  its  is not ambiguous in option B and C. And infact, Option C looks like the right answer to me.

Explanation:

Option A : Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumptions about the biomedical constitution of the individual  but the difference is that the former emphasizes  a holistic approach to treatment through the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.
While this answer choice is grammatically correct it is stylistically flawed. The contrast between the two medical systems is expressed through two separate clauses, although this could be stated more concisely in one clause.
The use of a new subject in the second clause the difference (is that, etc.) is an  awkward  way of developing the idea in the second part of the sentence because we do not know the difference between what two items is being described until we reach the words  the former .
This question focuses on teaching you to recognize the difference between proper style and idiomatic expression or awkward and wordy ways of phrasing a sentence. Therefore the answer choices contain only a few grammatical mistakes and more logical mistakes and stylistic flaws.  Red Light

Option C : Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumptions about the biomedical constitution of the individual  but differs from the latter in its emphasis on  a holistic approach to treatment through the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.
This answer choice is grammatically correct, logical and stylistically preferable to all other answer choices.
By eliminating the second clause (but the difference is) and using the verb  differs , the corrected sentence creates a concise sentence and correct parallelism with the use of the verbs  shares  and  differs . Although the word  former  is changed to  latter , this answer choice preserves the meaning and logic of the original sentence:  Osteopathic medicine...differs from the latter  (from the second item in the list, i.e. allopathic medicine, thus  latter  is correct over  former ).  Green Light 
This sentence uses the idiom:  A differs  from  B  in  C.  This idiom  describes the characteristic C of A which makes it different from B. 
 Example: Jane differs from John in her fondness for cats. 
Meaning: Jane is fond of cats, but John is not fond of them.
 Example: The GMAT differs from the GRE in its focus on business. 
Meaning: The GMAT focuses on business, but the GRE does not.

winterschool · Answer

Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumptions about the biomedical constitution of the individual but the difference is that the former emphasizes a holistic approach to treatment through the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.

A. but  the difference  is that the former emphasizes  Incorrect

but uses is alright, the difference is not parallel with shares 
 
B. but differs from the  former  in its emphasis on  Incorrect

there is no former other than Osteopathic medicine

C.  but differs from the latter in its emphasis on   Correct

D. and  is different in the former  emphasizing  Incorrect

there is no former other than Osteopathic medicine

E. but  being different from the former , as it emphasizes  Incorrect

Osteopathic medicine is the former, being uses redundant

NawalDwivedi · Answer

In option c, can its not refer to the latter, osteopathic medicine ? I guess it can refer to both.

Anisha1637 · Answer

Option C seems correct because initially we are discussing about the how the two medicines are same and describing that first medicine is similar to the other in some ways and now to shwo the difference we will again the former from the latter.

Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumpti

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Osteopathic medicine shares with allopathic medicine the same assumpti

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