While moving into the new apartment, Leigh discovered that

Question

While moving into the new apartment, Leigh discovered that her couch was  too long that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in  through the back door.

 
(A) too long that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in 
(B) too long for neither carrying up the stairs nor bringing in
(C) long enough that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in
(D) so long that it can neither be carried up the stairs or brought in
(E) so long that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in

wunderbar03 · Answer

E is the best because it carries two correct idioms: so long that, neither nor.

kapslock · Answer

(A) too long that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in
(B) too long for neither carrying up the stairs nor bringing in
(C) long enough that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in
(D) so long that it can neither be carried up the stairs or brought in
(E) so long that it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in[/quote]

My take on too long vs so long is this:

"too long" is (negatively) comparative. Thus it is usually followed by "to <do something>" or "for <so and so>".

"so long" is descriptive. Thus usually followed by "

Thus while
1. too long to handle
2. too long for using properly
can be fairly acceptable usage.

"so long" finds acceptance in the descriptive scenario like this
1. <it was> so long that he could not handle it well

There's a scenario of "as long" as well. This too is comparative. However while "too long" describes a negative (failure) scanario, as long is positive.
1. as long as you keep walking

As for the question above, E makes sense.

jpv · Answer

Yes (E)
1. so that.. is the Idiom
2. "could" should be used (future with respect to Past).

christoph · Answer

IMO what is being is tested here is not too vs so but the right idiom. "so long" in this context means "to a great extent" and "too long" means "more than enough". i think that both usages are right. so i think we have to look for the right idiom. thats "so that". :?:

Supercat · Answer

E is the only acceptable answer. This question is primarily testing two things:
x was so long that it.... (as opposed to x was too long that it)
neither / nor (as opposed to neither / or)

The phrase "x was too long that it" would never be correct English. Too and so are both adverbs modifying long, but they're not interchangeable. So calls for something on the other side of the adjective (so x that); too doesn't (too x.).

You could delete that and do this with a semicolon though! ...
Her couch was too long; it could neither be carried up the stairs nor brought in through the back door.

- Supercat
:twisted:

GMATT73 · Answer

OA is E

While moving into the new apartment, Leigh discovered that

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