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14 Aug 2021, 21:09
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D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
74% (01:35) correct
26%
(01:34)
wrong
based on 337
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
When held up to the backdrop of the night sky, the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm’s length appears greater than other much more distant objects, such as the full moon.
A) the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm’s length appears greater than other much more distant objects, such as the full moon
B) the full moon seems smaller than the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm’s length because the full moon is more distant
C) the circumference of the full moon seems smaller than the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm’s length even though the moon is more distant
D) the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm’s length appears greater than that of other much more distant objects, such as the full moon
E) the circumference of an ordinary quarter held at arm's length appears greater than other much more distant objects like the full moon
14 Aug 2021, 21:12
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
ISSUES
• comparison
→ like must be compared to like.
The circumference of a quarter, for example, cannot be compared to the moon.
Rather, the circumference of a quarter must be compared to the circumference of something else.
We can use "that of" to refer to "the circumference of" something else.
In fact, one of GMAC writers' favorite traps is to omit a phrase such as that of and hope that you will think that the original circumference (or whatever is under comparison) will "carry over" to the second item in the comparison.
• opening modifier issues
→ Can you hold up a circumference?
Substitute "outside edge" for "circumference."
Then you are holding up the outside edge of a quarter.
The noun phrase should be taken all in one piece.
Furthermore, it is patently absurd to think of holding up the full moon or (all in one piece) the outside edge of a full moon.
The introductory noun modifier cannot sensibly be applied to the moon or the outside edge of the moon.
That said, in a strict sense, I think, the modifier is slightly off when applied to the circumference of a quarter.
Fortunately, other errors dog four of the options.
Takeaway: find the options with the worst other errors and choose the last option standing.
We are not looking for a perfect sentence.
We are eliminating the four worst answers.
THE OPTIONS
→ the circumference of a quarter is compared to other distant objects (such as the moon)
→ we cannot compare a circumference (an outside edge) to a distant object (the whole thing, a celestial body)
ELIMINATE A
→ the moon is compared to the circumference of a quarter.
→ we cannot say that the moon, a celestial object, seems smaller than the circular edge of something
• modifier error
→ The moon is not being held up against the backdrop of the night sky
→ You might have been hesitant to consider the modifier error in this option because the modifier may be erroneous, full stop.
The comparison error is fatal. But in this case, the modifier is ludicrous and yet another reason to boot this option.
ELIMINATE B
→ the circumference of the moon seems smaller than that of a quarter because the moon is more distant, not despite the fact that (even though) it is more distant
• modifier error
→ you cannot hold up the moon and examine its circumference at arm's length.
The meaning error is fatal, but again, this modifier error is ludicrous.
ELIMINATE C
→ the circumference of a quarter is compared to the circumference of ("that of") distant objects such as the moon
• modifier
→ the best so far
→ although the fit might not be perfect, you can hold up the outside edge of a quarter up to the sky.
Yes, you are holding the quarter at arm's length.
Arguably, you are also holding its outside edge (circumference) at arm's length.
Whatever is the case, this option is the best of the bunch so far.
KEEP
→ just as is the case in option A, we cannot compare a circumference to a celestial body
• diction error - SUCH AS is better than LIKE
→ if we are introducing an example, in a contest between such as and like, such as wins.
Like is used to say that two nouns are similar.
To introduce examples, such as is still preferred to like.
A couple of official questions use like in the nonunderlined portion of the prompt, but I have never seen a correct answer in which like was used to introduce examples.
On the the other hand, many people believe that GMAC will abandon this preference soon.
Before I saw OG VR 2020, I would have agreed.
I thought that one question would disappear from OG VR 2020.
The question explicitly tests such as and like to introduce examples, although both incorrect options that use like have an additional error.
The question did not disappear from OG VR 2020.
Its official explanation states:
The preferred way to introduce examples is with the phrase "such as," rather than with the word "like," which suggests a comparison.
Spoiler alert: two incorrect answers to an official question are revealed
Eliminate E.
The best answer is D.
NOTES
You all handled the introductory modifier issue well: you ignored it (or decided not to decide) and found other errors upon whose basis the options could clearly be eliminated. That strategy is a winning one.
If you cannot decide an issue within a few seconds' time, move on.
Look for something else.
COMMENTS
Crytiocanalyst and aarkay87 , welcome to SC Butler.
I am always glad to expand the Butler community.
All aspirants have a standing invitation to post.
I am also always glad to see the rest of the Butler crew, from relatively new to veteran poster.
These answers range from very good to excellent.
I see well-articulated critical analysis.
I like the subtle differences among the posts; other aspirants would do well to read the thread in order to peer through different lenses at the question.
Keep up the good work, everyone.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
ISSUES
• comparison
→ like must be compared to like.
The circumference of a quarter, for example, cannot be compared to the moon.
Rather, the circumference of a quarter must be compared to the circumference of something else.
We can use "that of" to refer to "the circumference of" something else.
In fact, one of GMAC writers' favorite traps is to omit a phrase such as that of and hope that you will think that the original circumference (or whatever is under comparison) will "carry over" to the second item in the comparison.
• opening modifier issues
→ Can you hold up a circumference?
Substitute "outside edge" for "circumference."
Then you are holding up the outside edge of a quarter.
The noun phrase should be taken all in one piece.
Furthermore, it is patently absurd to think of holding up the full moon or (all in one piece) the outside edge of a full moon.
The introductory noun modifier cannot sensibly be applied to the moon or the outside edge of the moon.
That said, in a strict sense, I think, the modifier is slightly off when applied to the circumference of a quarter.
Fortunately, other errors dog four of the options.
Takeaway: find the options with the worst other errors and choose the last option standing.
We are not looking for a perfect sentence.
We are eliminating the four worst answers.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• comparison error
→ the circumference of a quarter is compared to other distant objects (such as the moon)
→ we cannot compare a circumference (an outside edge) to a distant object (the whole thing, a celestial body)
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• comparison error
→ the moon is compared to the circumference of a quarter.
→ we cannot say that the moon, a celestial object, seems smaller than the circular edge of something
• modifier error
→ The moon is not being held up against the backdrop of the night sky
→ You might have been hesitant to consider the modifier error in this option because the modifier may be erroneous, full stop.
The comparison error is fatal. But in this case, the modifier is ludicrous and yet another reason to boot this option.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• meaning -- illogical
→ the circumference of the moon seems smaller than that of a quarter because the moon is more distant, not despite the fact that (even though) it is more distant
• modifier error
→ you cannot hold up the moon and examine its circumference at arm's length.
The meaning error is fatal, but again, this modifier error is ludicrous.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• correct comparison
→ the circumference of a quarter is compared to the circumference of ("that of") distant objects such as the moon
• modifier
→ the best so far
→ although the fit might not be perfect, you can hold up the outside edge of a quarter up to the sky.
Yes, you are holding the quarter at arm's length.
Arguably, you are also holding its outside edge (circumference) at arm's length.
Whatever is the case, this option is the best of the bunch so far.
KEEP
Quote:
• comparison error
→ just as is the case in option A, we cannot compare a circumference to a celestial body
• diction error - SUCH AS is better than LIKE
→ if we are introducing an example, in a contest between such as and like, such as wins.
Like is used to say that two nouns are similar.
To introduce examples, such as is still preferred to like.
A couple of official questions use like in the nonunderlined portion of the prompt, but I have never seen a correct answer in which like was used to introduce examples.
On the the other hand, many people believe that GMAC will abandon this preference soon.
Before I saw OG VR 2020, I would have agreed.
I thought that one question would disappear from OG VR 2020.
The question explicitly tests such as and like to introduce examples, although both incorrect options that use like have an additional error.
The question did not disappear from OG VR 2020.
Its official explanation states:
The preferred way to introduce examples is with the phrase "such as," rather than with the word "like," which suggests a comparison.
Spoiler alert: two incorrect answers to an official question are revealed
The official question (OG VR 2020 #310) is HERE.
In addition to the statement above, the author of the OE writes:
(A) Like should be replaced by such as. Have been becoming is an incorrect verb tense.
(D) Like should be replaced by such as. Those of is unnecessary and awkward. Have been becoming is an incorrect verb tense.
In addition to the statement above, the author of the OE writes:
(A) Like should be replaced by such as. Have been becoming is an incorrect verb tense.
(D) Like should be replaced by such as. Those of is unnecessary and awkward. Have been becoming is an incorrect verb tense.
Eliminate E.
The best answer is D.
NOTES
You all handled the introductory modifier issue well: you ignored it (or decided not to decide) and found other errors upon whose basis the options could clearly be eliminated. That strategy is a winning one.
If you cannot decide an issue within a few seconds' time, move on.
Look for something else.
COMMENTS
Crytiocanalyst and aarkay87 , welcome to SC Butler.
I am always glad to expand the Butler community.
All aspirants have a standing invitation to post.
I am also always glad to see the rest of the Butler crew, from relatively new to veteran poster.
These answers range from very good to excellent.
I see well-articulated critical analysis.
I like the subtle differences among the posts; other aspirants would do well to read the thread in order to peer through different lenses at the question.
Keep up the good work, everyone.
15 Aug 2021, 01:42
Kudos
Bookmarks
Eventually I picked (D), but how can one hold the circumference of any object?
Modifier at the very beginning "When held up to the backdrop of the night sky" should take the subject of the sentence as its logical subject. We can hold a concrete object up to the backdrop of the night sky, but we cannot hold an object's property such as its circumference up. Armed with such knowledge, we can eliminate all options but (B).
Yet (B) cannot be right either. For one, the moon is too far away for us to hold. For another, "the full moon" cannot be compared with "the circumference”.
So, we have to suspend our disbelief regarding the author's ability to hold up "the circumference“ in order to examine the other options.
(A) Cannot compare "the circumference" with "objects".
(C) "even though" is inappropriate; "because" should be used.
Moreover, the moon is too far away for us to hold, so I guess it is also impossible to hold its circumference however creative the author is.
(D) The comparison is appropriately between "the circumference of an ordinary quarter" and "that of other much more distant objects".
(Nitpick: two instances of "held" in rapid succession, "held up to the backdrop" followed by "held at arm’s length", should better be avoided because such unintentional repetition catches readers' attention for no rhetorical reasons.)
(E) Cannot compare "the circumference" with "objects". Also: ”like" should be "such as".
Modifier at the very beginning "When held up to the backdrop of the night sky" should take the subject of the sentence as its logical subject. We can hold a concrete object up to the backdrop of the night sky, but we cannot hold an object's property such as its circumference up. Armed with such knowledge, we can eliminate all options but (B).
Yet (B) cannot be right either. For one, the moon is too far away for us to hold. For another, "the full moon" cannot be compared with "the circumference”.
So, we have to suspend our disbelief regarding the author's ability to hold up "the circumference“ in order to examine the other options.
(A) Cannot compare "the circumference" with "objects".
(C) "even though" is inappropriate; "because" should be used.
Moreover, the moon is too far away for us to hold, so I guess it is also impossible to hold its circumference however creative the author is.
(D) The comparison is appropriately between "the circumference of an ordinary quarter" and "that of other much more distant objects".
(Nitpick: two instances of "held" in rapid succession, "held up to the backdrop" followed by "held at arm’s length", should better be avoided because such unintentional repetition catches readers' attention for no rhetorical reasons.)
(E) Cannot compare "the circumference" with "objects". Also: ”like" should be "such as".
