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 environmental and natural resource 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

abhijit_sen · Answer

It is countries that are as varied as and not anything else. Original sentence is missing that.

A as varied as
Incorrect missing that.

B as varied as are
It implies we already mentioned few countries which are compared with upcoming examples, but this is not the case.

C as varied as those of
"those" has no clear referent.

D that are as varied as
Correct.

E that are varied as are
Correct idiom is as...as but this is not correctly used here.

lexis · Answer

Can you show me to which THAT (in D) refers.
Must logout to watch the final Champion League match between MU and Chelsea. MU 2-1 Chelsea (Hope that :D)

abhijit_sen · Answer

That is referring to countries. I know you will say "that" is singular how can it refer to plural countries but I am not sure even in OG at certain instances singular that is used to refer to plural objects but what is the logic even I am puzzled about it.

Any Guru please enlighten us in what cases we can use singular "that" to refer to plural objects.

sanjay_gmat · Answer

A is good as is.

to make B right, we need "that are as varied as are", although this will change the meaning.

C is wrong because it uses "those of"

D "are" is missing after "as varied as"

E is missing "as".

getafixdruid · Answer

I am torn between A and D.
I am going to go with A , as i am not convinced that "that" is needed in D.

omega17 · Answer

No need to put those

"countries as varied as China, the Netherlands, and Hungary"

countries are described here. Not those of countries

A

tharunv · Answer

B, C and E can be eliminated since they are grammatically wrong - its a toss up between A and D - but is that required? Anybody knows the OA??

billyjeans · Answer

I think it should be A,

Doesn't make sense to put a verb are in there.

lexis · Answer

OA is A

mbawaters · Answer

Yeah I concur - use of 'that' may be excessive in D.

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

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