Sentence Correction

venkb wrote:385. In its most recent approach, the comet Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position, some 25 degrees above the horizon, that Halley's comet will pass the next time it appears.
(A) that Halley's comet will pass
(B) that Halley's comet is to be passing
(C) as Halley's comet
(D) as will Halley's comet
(E) as Halley's comet will do

Can anyone explain the solution?

venkb wrote:385. In its most recent approach, the comet Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position, some 25 degrees above the horizon, that Halley�s comet will pass the next time it appears.
(A) that Halley�s comet will pass
(B) that Halley�s comet is to be passing
(C) as Halley�s comet
(D) as will Halley�s comet
(E) as Halley�s comet will do

Can anyone explain the solution?

yyz5028 wrote:Hello Sarai,

I read your explanation on SC1000 - 385 https://www.beatthegmat.com/in-its-most- ... 78-15.html

I'm wondering whether you could explain why in D) we can omit the main verb"pass"? It seems to me that because the two sentences have different tense, the 1st is past tense and the second is in future tense, we CANNOT omit the main verb "pass".
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SaraiGMAXonline wrote:

venkb wrote:385. In its most recent approach, the comet Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position, some 25 degrees above the horizon, that Halley's comet will pass the next time it appears.
(A) that Halley's comet will pass
(B) that Halley's comet is to be passing
(C) as Halley's comet
(D) as will Halley's comet
(E) as Halley's comet will do

Can anyone explain the solution?

Hi Guys,

Let's take this apart one piece at a time, so that later you can save time!

(A) that Halley's comet will pass

...Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position... that Halley's comet will pass

IDIOM!! Same... as. Every time you see the word 'same', make sure that it connects to the word 'as' (not 'that')

(B) that Halley's comet is to be passing

Same problem as A.

Also note: "is to be" should never replace will. Never expand one word into three words-- in other words, STAY CONCISE!

(C) as Halley's comet

Without the "will" we have an Error in Ellipses!

What are ellipses?

Ellipses is confusing to many people and comes up quite a bit on SC! So let's try to make the issue a little more obvious.

Ellipses=Leaving out a word because that exact word shows up elsewhere in the sentence.

Examples (some should sound very familiar and natural while others appear only in academic texts, not in every-day speech):

Bob's shoes are cleaner than Joe's. (Joe's shoes)

I will eat and sleep. (will sleep)

Language is the medium of poetry, color the medium of painting. (is the medium)

Bob's is a house filled with joy and laughter. (Bob's house...)

The nuts were roasted, and the onions caramelized. (onions were...)

Error in Ellipses: Implying a word that is left out entirely.

Examples:

I have and always will be a student. (have been)

Joe has apples, and I want one. (one apple, one of them...)

I have eaten more than I ever will again in a single night. (will eat...)

This issues comes up frequently in comparisons!

Crommelin "passed," but Hailey's comet will pass next time! The "will" cannot be left out because we are comparing verbs in two different tenses.
(Ellipses and other important, small, but frequently tested issues can be found in SC Lessons 9&10 at gmaxonline!)

(D) as will Halley's comet

Correct: Crommelin passed at the same distance/position as will Halley's comet.

(E) as Halley's comet will do

"comet will do" --> "do" also is an ellipses: It implies do something in the present. But there is no verb in the present to which "do" can refer.

Let me know if this was confusing!

Best,
Sarai