Answer choice (A) is not correct because it appears to say that Pterocom, a company, is a subset of the corporate contributions. Clearly we want to talk about the corporate contributions of Pterocom not Pterocom itself.

Once we identify a mistake in answer choice (A), we want to eliminate all other choices that contain the same error. In this case, we can eliminate A, C, and D.

What's the difference between answer choice (B) and (E)? As always, if you're not certain, it's best to pick the shorter answer choice. That will usually lead you quickly to the best answer choice.

In this case, answer choice (B) is both wordy and unclear. The phrase "departed significantly" is substantially more efficient than the phrase "were a substantial departure from." Additionally the word "amount" is inappropriate because we're talking about the amounts of the corporate contributions.

NandishSS wrote:Few of the corporate contributions to the earthquake relief fund, aside from Pterocom, were a sigificant difference from the usual amounts given by large companies for major international disasters.

a) aside from Pterocom, were a significant difference from the usual amounts
b) Pterocom's excepted, were a substantial departure from the usual amount of those
c) Pterocom excepted, broke the usual mold of those
d) notwithstanding Pterocom, veered much from the usual levels
e) apart from Pterocom's, departed signficantly from the usual amounts

A: Few of the corporate contributions, aside from Pterocom
C: Few of the corporate contributions, Pterocom excepted
D: Few of the corporate contributions, notwithstanding Pterocom
In these options, contributions are illogically compared to a CORPORATION (Pterocom).
Eliminate A, C and D.

B: those given by large corporations
Here, the referent for those seems to be contributions, implying the following:
contributions given by large companies.
A contribution = SOMETHING GIVEN.
It is redundant to say that SOMETHING GIVEN was GIVEN by large companies.
Eliminate B.

The correct answer is E.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

NandishSS wrote:Few of the corporate contributions to the earthquake relief fund, aside from Pterocom, were a sigificant difference from the usual amounts given by large companies for major international disasters.

a) aside from Pterocom, were a significant difference from the usual amounts
b) Pterocom's excepted, were a substantial departure from the usual amount of those
c) Pterocom excepted, broke the usual mold of those
d) notwithstanding Pterocom, veered much from the usual levels
e) apart from Pterocom's, departed signficantly from the usual amounts

A: Few of the corporate contributions, aside from Pterocom
C: Few of the corporate contributions, Pterocom excepted
D: Few of the corporate contributions, notwithstanding Pterocom
In these options, contributions are illogically compared to a CORPORATION (Pterocom).
Eliminate A, C and D.

B: those given by large corporations
Here, the referent for those seems to be contributions, implying the following:
contributions given by large companies.
A contribution = SOMETHING GIVEN.
It is redundant to say that SOMETHING GIVEN was GIVEN by large companies.
Eliminate B.

The correct answer is E.

Dear Mitch,

I would eliminate choice B for 2 reasons:

1- The lengthy 'were a substantial departure from' compare to neat 'departed significantly from'

2- meaning issue: How come 'contributions were a departure'. It is illogical.

Are those solid points to reject B?

Thanks