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The first part of the comparison is "distribution of mass within the core". An ideal sentence would compare this to "distribution of mass within Y"

A - Incorrectly compares "distribution of mass within the core" to "the mantle". Eliminate A for unparallel construction

B - that stands for distribution of mass, so if we were to write out be, it would compare the first term to "distribution of mass within the mantle". This matches our expected construct "distribution of mass within Y"

C - that stands for distribution of mass, so if we were to write out be, it would compare the first term to "distribution of mass of the mantle". "of" is problematic for two reasons. (1) it uses a different preposition than the first element does to introduce the prepositional phrase. The first part says "distribution within the core", not "distribution of the core". (2) it changes the meaning. "distribution within" does not mean the same thing as "distribution of" does. Eliminate C

D - See A

E - Exactly the construct we expected; "distribution of mass within Y" is a perfect match for "distribution of mass within the core"

B and E are the only grammatically correct answers. B is better for concision's sake.

I would pick B.

Note: The fact that the last comma is underlined actually makes all the answer choices incorrect (because no answer uses that comma, creating run-on sentences)

(I use the OG and GMATFix Verbal Flashcards)

IMO C

for parallel structure " distribution OF landmass within the earth,like that OF mantle surrounding the core....."

I might be wrong after reading ted's post i think it does make sense but i wud like to stick to my answer bcos this is wht i wud have chosen on the exam...i wud like to know where i went wrong.

IMO C, parallel wins

Please post the answer.

rgds
Andrew

Please review your answers to check why A is wrong. "The distribution of mass" is parallel to "the mantle". What is a mantle? Its the layer of the earth between the crust and the core. So the comparision is appropriate.

"Within mantle", "that of the mantle" only change the meaning of the sentence.

I am now throwing this open for discussion again

in describing mantle, i believe "which" is better than "that," since there is only one mantle, ie. use a non-essential modifier. IMO C is the winner

Vemuri it's not A because you cannot compare the distribution of land mass and the mantle, but you can compare two distributions, hence you need a that.
Now, between B and C, I pick B hands down, because of parallelism and because it makes more sense. The "that" in B doesn't refer only to the distribution but to all "The distribution of land mass" as it is all the subject there. You are comparing the distribution of the land mass within x with that within x.
Hence IMO B.

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I vote for B. Ted's explanation suffices

I change my vote to B. My previous post only disproved why A was a good choice

Both B and C are parallel. I would go with B cos it is shorter.

IMO - the key word is mass distribution, in addition "land" and "mantle" consist of the "mass" hence:
The distribution of land mass....., like that(mass distribution) of the mantle surrounding the core.......
so C
i think people are hunger for OA

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however, from my own perspectives - B seems better
I think that because "within" better fits than "of", and as TedCornell mentioned double "of" - wrong

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OK, the majority wins !!! OA is indeed B.

i thought E is superior to B.....because the use of surrounding after Mantle jus dint sound correct.

which is more appropriate " surrounding " or "that surrounds"

can anyone shed some light on this one??