GMAT OG 2019 As with ants, the elaborate

Hello Everyone!

It looks like we have a comparison question here, and that means we are mainly dealing with parallel structure and idioms! Let’s take a quick look at each answer to figure out what to focus on:

1. Checking that the two items being compared are equal
2. Using correct idiomatic terms for comparisons

Let’s start with #1 on our list. In all of the answers, the first half of the comparison focuses on “ants.” This means the other half of the comparison must focus on something of equal value – in this case, termites. Let’s see how each answer holds up:

(A) As with ants, the elaborate social structure of termites includes a few individuals reproducing --> NOT PARALLEL
(B) As do ants, termites have an elaborate social structure, which includes a few individuals to reproduce --> PARALLEL
(C) Just as with ants, termite social structure is elaborate, including a few individuals for reproducing --> NOT PARALLEL
(D) Like ants, termites have an elaborate social structure in which a few individuals reproduce --> PARALLEL
(E) Like that of ants, the termite social structure is elaborate, including a few individuals that reproduce --> PARALLEL

There you go – right away, we can toss out answers A and C because they are not comparing two equal items! Now that we have it narrowed down to just B, D, and E.

If you read answer E closely, you may see it has another problem with parallelism:

(E) Like that of ants, the termite social structure is elaborate, including a few individuals that reproduce and the rest serve

For this to be parallel, these two parts would need to be adjusted. It could say "individuals that reproduce and the rest that serve," or reword it to get rid of the word "that" on both sides. So let's toss out answer E because it also doesn't uses parallel structure.

Let’s look at #2 on our list: idiomatic terms for comparison.

On the GMAT exam, the use of "like" vs. "as" has to do with what two things are being compared. We use "like" to compare two nouns, and "as" to compare two actions or phrases with verbs attached to them.

LIKE = noun + noun (The yellow car, like the red car, comes with a sunroof.)
AS = verb phrase + verb phrase (My aunt bakes soft oatmeal cookies, as her mother did when she was a child.)

So let's see how answers B and D stack up:

(B) As do ants, termites have an elaborate social structure, which includes a few individuals to reproduce --> WRONG

We don't use "as" to compare two nouns - we use "like."

(D) Like ants, termites have an elaborate social structure in which a few individuals reproduce --> CORRECT!

There you go – you’re left with only one answer! Answer D is correct because it uses the proper “like” for a comparison of two nouns, and the two items being compared are equal!


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