Sentence Correction

As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health related items.

A. As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
B. As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
C. As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
D. As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
E. Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions.

C

I want an expert to explain the issues with choice A and B

What is the source of this?

C has a modifier issue with the introductory clause.

Its from Manhattan verbal forum

hmmm... seems like whomever translated this problem did a bad job. Plenty of errors.

sana.noor wrote:As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful, since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health related items.

A. As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
B. As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success
C. As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
D. As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful
E. Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions.

C issues with choice A and B

I think this is GMAT PREP question (not sure though). Reasoning for A/B

A - IT does not have a referent; Its not clear WHAT IS WITH TRADITIONAL PHARMACIES; IMO use of IS and TO BE SUCCESSFUL are not in sync because IS signifies GENERAL TRUTH while TO BE signifies SOMETHING I FUTURE

B - Its not clear WHAT IS WITH THE CASE OF TRADITIONAL PHARMACIES; IMO "to have success" is awkward - can anyone possess SUCCESS? "have" suggests possessiveness (incorrect); Additionally TO HAVE SUCCESS suggests FUTURE while IS (in IT IS PRIMARILY..) suggests GENERAL TRUTH

Jim@StratusPrep wrote:What is the source of this?

C has a modifier issue with the introductory clause.

i don't think so ,in fact C is very much parallel . As is the case is parallel to prescriptions are moreover such phrase "as is the case" ,"as would be the case " has been used couple of times in correct official problem .it is one of those magical phrase that can stand for almost ant thing .some what similar to "do so "
also A isint parallel: "as it is with..." isn't parallel to anything. this is the main problem.
nothing "is with" online drugstores, so this choice is not sufficiently parallel.

The point is c compares pharmacies with prescriptions...

Jim@StratusPrep wrote:The point is c compares pharmacies with prescriptions...

thats a wrong interpretation : what u are suggesting wud have been the case had c been :like traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore
when u say " As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore " u effectively mean that the fact that prescription are cornerstone of a success is applicable to both "online drugstore" and "traditional pharmacies"