In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through listening  and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.

A) and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.

B) and attempting to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.

C) and attempts to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.

D) and attempting to copy speech patterns rather than through reading grammar books.

E) and attempting to copy speech patterns instead of through reading grammar books.

generis · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) POE (process of elimination: find and eliminate the four worst answers • Split #1: MORE . . . THAN In English, when two things are compared and you see a comparative word or phrase such as more, less, taller, shorter, much taller, more beautiful, and so on, immediately look for the word than . more . . . than less . . . than more beautiful . . . than Furthermore, there is no such thing as More X and Y . . . rather than Z.

("Rather than" can be used in many other contexts, but not one such as this in which the word more is not yet paired with a plain than .) The specific iteration of this idiom in this sentence is More through X and Y than through Z. Or even more specifically, MORE through doing X and Y . . . THAN through doing Z. Eliminate answers A ("and not"), D ("rather than"), and E ("instead of") • Split #2 -- Parallelism Options B and C remain. Option B: . . . and attempting to copy speech patterns . . . Option C: . . . and attempts to copy speech patterns . . . Find the parallelism marker, and . The right hand side (RHS) should match the left hand side (LHS). To the left of and we see listening . We need a word parallel to the gerund (verbING), listening . You might be doubtful. Sometimes and joins verb phrases. Perhaps this and refers to learn, which is the main verb. No. Look at the end of the sentence, which is identical in the remaining options. That end part states, . . . than through reading grammar books." The word and refers to listening . Now we have two gerunds (verbING words): listening and reading . Which answer maintains the parallelism better than the other? B) gives us listening . . .attempting . . . reading C) gives us listening . . . attempts . . . reading → Option B uses the gerund (verbING) word attempting, which is parallel to listening and to reading . → Option C uses the noun attempts, which is a "regular" abstract noun and not really parallel to listening or to reading . (They are all nouns, but typically we do not pair a "regular" noun with a gerund (verbING); it is better to pair a gerund with another gerund.) Eliminate C. The correct answer is B. COMMENTS ritzu , welcome to SC Butler. I am always happy to have aspirants join in. (I like yay!, too. It's cheery.

) I want you all to succeed on this test, and I know of no better way to learn something than to post about and thus teach it. So if you are an aspirant, take me up on my standing offer to post. And don't worry about making mistakes. Show me a person who makes few mistakes and I will show you a person who learns very little. These explanations range from good to excellent. Nicely done!

PyjamaScientist · Answer

More through X than through Y.

We learn  more through  listening and attempting to copy  than through  reading grammar books.

So,  (B)  in my opinion. I took 1:10 mins.

HarshaBujji · Answer

A) and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.   X more than Y is a proper idiom

B) and attempting to copy speech patterns  than  through reading grammar books.

C)  and attempts  to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.  listening and attempting are parallel.

D) and attempting to copy speech patterns  rather than  through reading grammar books.   X more...rather than Y is wrong , rather than can be used without the usage of more.

E) and attempting to copy speech patterns  instead of  through reading grammar books  Similar to D more and instead of won't work, Moreover while comparisons we should use rather than instead of "instead".

IMO B

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (B) . It took me 43 seconds.

(A) "More...than" should be used. 
Eliminate (DE) for the same reason.

(C) is eliminated for lack of parallelism.

100mitra · Answer

Correct Option B

A) and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.
X and Not Y (Conditional)- wrong Idiom

B) and attempting to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.
X than Y (Comparasion) - correct Idiom

C) and attempts to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.
(verb)attempts fails to match parallelism - listening , attempting and reading

D) and attempting to copy speech patterns rather than through reading grammar books.
X rather than Y (Conditional) - Wrong Idiom

E) and attempting to copy speech patterns instead of through reading grammar books.
X instead of Y (preferance, prepositional phase) - wrong Idiom

winterschool · Answer

In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through listening and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.

A) and attempting to copy speech patterns  and not  through reading grammar books.  Incorrect

correct idioms - ........more ............than...............

B)  and attempting to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.   Correct

C)  and attempts  to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books.  Incorrect

'listening and attempts' are not in parallel

D) and attempting to copy speech patterns  rather than  through reading grammar books.  Incorrect

same as A

E) and attempting to copy speech patterns  instead of  through reading grammar books.  Incorrect

same as a

aishu0091 · Answer

I got this Correct (Yay!) in 48 seconds (More Yay!) 
My reasoning : 
In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through listening and  attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books .

A) and attempting to copy speech patterns and not through reading grammar books.- The 'Idiom' is More x.. than .. Y. since the non-underlined portion has more we can confirm this applies. -eliminate

B) and attempting to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books. - looks parallel and follows the keeps the correct 'idiom' structure.

C) and attempts to copy speech patterns than through reading grammar books. - through listening // attempts to copy // reading- not parallel, should be attempting instead - eliminate.

D) and attempting to copy speech patterns rather than through reading grammar books.- wrong idiom, eliminate

E) and attempting to copy speech patterns instead of through reading grammar books. - wrong idiom, eliminate

generis · Answer

You can read the official explanation by clicking  here .

In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

In the initial stages of learning a new language we learn more through

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards