singhag wrote:In many upper-class Egyptian homes, French was spoken within the family, just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy.
(A) just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy
correct
(B) just like it once been among the Russian aristocracy
use as for comparing phrases

(C) just as Russian aristocracy had once done
th nonunderlined one is passive so we need a passive construction

(D) similar to what the Russian aristocracy had once done
awkward
(E) like what had once been done by the Russian aristocracy
use as for comparing phrases

IMO A

singhag wrote:
In many upper-class Egyptian homes, French was spoken within the family, just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy.

(A) just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy - CORRECT . french spoken in ...family is compared to french spoken in....family.
(B) just like it once been among the Russian aristocracy - just as is the correct idiom . ELIMINATE
(C) just as Russian aristocracy had once done - we are comparing french spoken within ... family to french spoken within .....family.Here it seems we r comparing french spoken in ...family to what the russians had done .ELIMINATE
(D) similar to what the Russian aristocracy had once done - we are comparing french spoken within ... family to french spoken within .....family.Here it seems we r comparing french spoken in ...family to what the russians had done .ELIMINATE
(E) like what had once been done by the Russian aristocracy - we are comparing french spoken within ... family to french spoken within .....family.Here it seems we r comparing french spoken in ...family to what the russians had done .ELIMINATE

Kindly post your answer with an explanation...OA after some discussion