Sentence Correction

462. Judge Lois Forer’s study asks why do some litigants have a preferred status over others in the use of a public resource, the courts, which in theory are available to all but in fact are unequally distributed among rich and poor.
(A) do some litigants have a preferred status over others in the use of a public resource, the courts, which in theory are available to all but in fact are unequally distributed among
(B) some litigants have a preferred status over others in the use of a public resource, the courts, which in theory are available to all but in fact are unequally distributed between
(C) do some litigants have a preferred status over another in the use of a public resource, the courts, in theory available to all but in fact are unequally distributed among
(D) some litigants have a preferred status to another in the use of a public resource, the courts, in theory available to all but in fact not equally distributed between
(E) does one litigant have a preferred status over the other in the use of a public resource, the courts, in theory available to all but in fact they are not equally distributed among


Between B and D why the answer is not D. The correct answer is [spoiler]B

D uses the idiom "prefer to" while B uses "prefer over"

This is from 1000SC question number 462. I guess both are wrong
Someone please help[/spoiler]

i used the spoiler in the wrong way...

D uses the idiom "prefer to" while B uses "prefer over"

This is from 1000SC question number 462. I guess both are wrong
Someone please help

B - because you have to compare like things. In this case 'Some' to Others' in option b vs. option d (where you compare 'Some to 'another'?

But i guess the correct idiom is "prefer to" and not "prefer over".

I'd defer to some of the English experts on this forum but I think "prefer to" and "prefer over" are acceptable. In terms of every day speak, "prefer to" is probably used more often. Viewing both in the context of this question, however, you have to look at other things that will be the tie breaker - in this case the comparisons of plural-to-singular (option d) vs. plural to plural (option b)

IMO answer should be B and after that I verified it on nytimes.com

This question is extracted from an article of nytimes.com.

While many have objected to crowded calendars, trial delays and overworked judges, she is among the few to ask a different kind of question. Why, she inquires, do ''some litigants have such a preferred status over others'' in the use of public resources, the courts, which in theory are available to all but in fact are so unequally distributed between rich and poor? Furthermore, why do we tolerate the great disparity in access to the legal and investigative talent required to protect precious rights?

D:correct

A, B: wrong use of which.

C& E : prefer to is correct idiom . wrong use of AMONG

Just wanted to add two cents.

Idiom: prefer X to Y, both X and Y should be grammatically parallel.

D. "a preferred status to another" - i.e. status vs. another.

But I think the intent of this sentence to compare the status of some litigants vs. status of other litigants. So some has preferred status to others (status) ...

So B wins.

Check the end part:

among rich and poor.
or
between rich and poor.

Obviously between because between is used for two things.

A, C and E out.

In D, I found two problems:
1. some ... another (others (plural) is correct)
2. which is required

I think the most important take away from this sentence is to not discount an idiom or specific word when one sees it. Instead we should read for meaning before eliminating choices.

between rich and poor....is the only hint you need to short list the answers...

you are left with B and D..

D is a quick reject..

"Between X and Y" is the correct idiom. "Among" is used to compare more than 2 items.
Hence, A, C, and E are incorrect. "among X and Y"� unidiomatic.

Idiom: prefer X to/over Y, both X and Y must be logically parallel.
D: "a preferred status to another" - i.e. status vs. another, �not parallel.

The intent of this sentence is to compare the "status" of some litigants with the "status" other litigants. So some has preferred "status over others (status)" ...
Hence, B is the answer.