Fusion ...!!!

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors
(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors
(C) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do
(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in nclear reactors
(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart

Here we need to check for parallelism, powers and merges so only D,E must be final options

Here now we need to check for using either comparison indicator or Contra

But no Contra is necessary here only we need to use the comparison indicator..... So E is the Option.

AIM GMAT wrote:Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors -- merging doesnot seem to modify the process of Nuclear fusion and violates parallelism
(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors
(C) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do
(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in nclear reactors
(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart -- Improper comparison between Nuclear fusion and Nuclear reactors

IMO D.

IMO B

powers || merges

D > E... in E 'them' is haunting the option

C for me.
comma+ing modifier can modify he entier clause before it OR the subject of tht clause.
here 2nd case(modifying fusuion)
i dnt like the use of and (as if gmat cares abt wht i like ), C looks just fine.

Imo D

Q) Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

Firstly , merging the nuclei of atoms ... wrongly modifies hydrogen bombs.

A,B,C are out

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors
(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart

In E, there is wrong comparison between " merging of the nuclei of atoms" and "atomic reactors"... it should compare with "atomic reactor's process" and not "atomic reactor" itself..

D though wordy, makes perfect comparison..

Thus D

OA?

rohu27 wrote:C for me.
comma+ing modifier can modify he entier clause before it OR the subject of tht clause.
here 2nd case(modifying fusuion)
i dnt like the use of and (as if gmat cares abt wht i like ), C looks just fine.

Guys updated OA .

I guess you are in sync with what GMAT likes .

i would go with C because we don't require ",and ..........." therefore D and E out........out of A, B and C we require an action verb in order to keep the sentence parallel.........only C has the action verb "do"..............whats the OA?????

I am worried now as I feel I still have a long way to go to ace in verbal.

Anyways .. I am unable to understand one thing, how can Nuclear fusion (a process) be compared to Nuclear reactor (a machinery which hosts the process).

Please provide insights into this.

Hi Pranay,

As this sentence is a typical "apples to oranges comparison error" , apart from the "subject,-ING " structure you need to look out for the main verb. Here the main verb is "powers". The other part of the sentence should also contain a word that refers to the main verb. Only option C has "do". You can say
X powers a,b,and c , - ING ........, as Ys do.

Other approach:

D and E are out because after ", AND" there should be a complete sentence.

A is out----> Fusion not comparable to "in reactors"
B is out ---> Fusion not comparable to reactors (Your point)
C is better option, because it compares action(verb-"powers")

Hope it helps!

Thanks Martein.

@rohu, Aim, aspirant2011

All of you people suggest that OA is C, then please clear my doubt...because i see a serious comparison issue in Op C??

I have no issue with the modifier, the modifier is fine...but I have an issue with the use of AS...AS is acting as a comparison indicator..and u can see

"as nuclear reactors do "------>>> Clause

so a clause must be compared to a clause, now if u say that we are comparing the AS clause with this clause "Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs"...then thats Logically INCORRECT...m i right????

Logically, the AS clause should be compared with this part

" merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart" ---> phrase

but grammatically that gonna be incorrect because a clause cannot be compared with a phrase
So i think Op C is incorrect...please suggest..m i missing something????

For Op D...the comparison i find logical but the AS..part has no subject...AS is..bla bla..doesn't make sense...

For Op E...illogically compares Nuclear fusion to nuclear reactors...hence wrong...

In sum, i find all the choices incorrect ...whats the source of this question..???

I tried to explain above why C is better option. See if it helps.

smackmartine wrote:I tried to explain above why C is better option. See if it helps.

I already read your explanation but still i didn't get how u are comparing Action (power)...with the verb DO in As clause...

As per my understanding, the logical meaning is...In nuclear fusion, merging of nuclei of atoms takes place, whereas (as clause comparing) in nuclear reactors splitting of atoms takes place..

This splitting of atoms action is described by the verb (DO) in as clause...

so the actions that should be compared are

merging of atoms vs splitting of atoms...

while the comparison u r suggesting is between power and X..and i didn't understand what is X???