So-called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of

Question

So-called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels, are having a positive effect on the environment and natural resources base of countries  as varied as  China, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

a) as varied as

b) as varied as are

c) as varied as those of

d) that are as varied as

e) that are varied as are




I chose D, but the OA is A. What makes A better than D? thanks

gregspirited · Answer

I think "that" modifes the sentence until the comma. I guess it is wrong if we think that "that" modifies only the countries. Hence A is right.
If someone can vouch my explanation that would be great

AimHigher · Answer

I think both A and D are correct
D is just verbose with that are and does not add any value with words that are

Hence go with A

ashkrs · Answer

It is having a positive effect on countries that are as varied as china..
It is having a positive effect on countries as varied as china...

I think "that are" may be redundant here , other wise there is no grammatical error. 
And gmat's rule is if there are 2 sentences which are gramatically correct and one of the sentence happens to be A , then always and always chose A.

alexperi · Answer

D seems to imply that China is varied, Netherlands is varied and Hungary is varied.
A seems to imply that (China, the Netherlands, and Hungary) as an example vary. A has the correct logical meaning.

dkverma · Answer

I think D has got reduntant words in it. Hence A is correct.

tarek99 · Answer

sorry guys! forgot to post the OA. THe OA is A. Becauase we can't say "countries that are as varied as....."

"that" is already redundant. we already have the word "countries' before it so why also add "that"?? remember the construction when using such a comparison : x as....as y

so can we say" that  are  as varied as  china ..."? we are comparing to irrelevant things here. that is why option A is the best.

jay02 · Answer

A

I don't think "that" is redundant; it's just changes the meaning of the sentence.

When you say "as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary", the claim is that the tax is affecting unique countries, namely, China, the Netherlands, and Hungary. The focus is on these specific countries.

However, when you say "that are as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary", the claim becomes more general. we are no longer focusing on these three specific countries but using these countries as models of countries that are being affected.

In this particular case, "as varied as" seem to serve the purpose of "such as" whereas "that are as varied as" seem to serve the purpose of "like".

So-called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of

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