Rocknrolla21 wrote:
GMATNinja daagh can you please explain this one. Unclear about the points below:
- Can we compare a singular noun to a plural noun?
- Also, the split between whereas and although.
Thanks!
First, yes, it's fine to compare a singular noun to a plural noun. For example:
"Unlike Tim's daughter, the other kids in the neighborhood have never attempted to call Child Protective Services on their own parents."
Here, Tim's daughter (singular) is compared to the other kids in the neighborhood (plural) and this comparison is perfectly logical. (And so is this poor girl's attempt to free herself.)
As for the split between "whereas" and "although," the difference between the two is so subtle that I wouldn't want to use this as a decision point. However, it's worth bearing in mind that "although" typically connects two clauses that have contrasting actions. Take another look at (E):
Although a ramjet generally does not have the capability... a scramjet, or supersonic combustion ramjet, can attain...
Here, the sentence seems to be comparing what one type of ramjet does not
have with what another type of ramjet can
do. It would make far more sense to compare what one ramjet cannot do with what another ramjet can do. This is what we see in (B):
Whereas a ramjet generally cannot achieve high speeds... a scramjet, or supersonic combustion ramjet, can attain...
Others have noted that (B) is far more concise, and to use that as a tiebreaker isn't unreasonable, but I'd prefer a more concrete issue to rely on. More importantly, (B) compares two
actions, "cannot achieve" and "can attain," creating a far more clear and logical construction than the one we find in (E).
The takeaway: this is far less about "although" vs "whereas" than it is about the logic of the comparison. There's basically zero chance that the GMAT will ever use the distinction between "although" and "whereas" as an unavoidable, core issue in an actual SC question.
I hope that helps!
), the official explanation says that the singular and plural can't be compared