GMATGuruNY wrote:

GmatKiss wrote:Of the people who brought about the reformation, the religious revolution that grew out of objections to the doctrines of the medieval church, Martin Luther is the best known of them.

(A) Martin Luther is the best known of them.
(B) the best known is Martin Luther
(C) the better known of them was Martin Luther
(D) Martin Luther is better known
(E) the best known one was Martin Luther

Better is used to compare TWO THINGS. Best is used to compare MORE THAN TWO THINGS. Since this SC is comparing the PEOPLE who brought about the reformation, better (in C and D) is incorrect. Eliminate C and D.

In A, of them is redundant with of the people. Eliminate A.

In E, was implies that Martin Luther no longer is the best known. The intended meaning of the sentence is that Martin Luther IS the best known. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is B.

Dear Mitch,

If the options were,

x) the best known is Martin Luther
y) Martin Luther is the best known

which one would you prefer?
or would you end up with the famous saying, "THE GMAT WILL NOT TEST YOU WITH BOTH THE OPTIONS"

TIA,
GK

GmatKiss wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

GmatKiss wrote:Of the people who brought about the reformation, the religious revolution that grew out of objections to the doctrines of the medieval church, Martin Luther is the best known of them.

(A) Martin Luther is the best known of them.
(B) the best known is Martin Luther
(C) the better known of them was Martin Luther
(D) Martin Luther is better known
(E) the best known one was Martin Luther

Better is used to compare TWO THINGS. Best is used to compare MORE THAN TWO THINGS. Since this SC is comparing the PEOPLE who brought about the reformation, better (in C and D) is incorrect. Eliminate C and D.

In A, of them is redundant with of the people. Eliminate A.

In E, was implies that Martin Luther no longer is the best known. The intended meaning of the sentence is that Martin Luther IS the best known. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is B.

Dear Mitch,

If the options were,

x) the best known is Martin Luther
y) Martin Luther is the best known

which one would you prefer?
or would you end up with the famous saying, "THE GMAT WILL NOT TEST YOU WITH BOTH THE OPTIONS"

TIA,
GK

My query is also open to all other friends in the forum

Any thoughts friends?!

GmatKiss wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

GmatKiss wrote:Of the people who brought about the reformation, the religious revolution that grew out of objections to the doctrines of the medieval church, Martin Luther is the best known of them.

(A) Martin Luther is the best known of them.
(B) the best known is Martin Luther
(C) the better known of them was Martin Luther
(D) Martin Luther is better known
(E) the best known one was Martin Luther

Better is used to compare TWO THINGS. Best is used to compare MORE THAN TWO THINGS. Since this SC is comparing the PEOPLE who brought about the reformation, better (in C and D) is incorrect. Eliminate C and D.

In A, of them is redundant with of the people. Eliminate A.

In E, was implies that Martin Luther no longer is the best known. The intended meaning of the sentence is that Martin Luther IS the best known. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is B.

Dear Mitch,

If the options were,

x) the best known is Martin Luther
y) Martin Luther is the best known

which one would you prefer?
or would you end up with the famous saying, "THE GMAT WILL NOT TEST YOU WITH BOTH THE OPTIONS"

TIA,
GK

I haven't seen a single OG problem differentiating this two construction,but if i have to choose, i will choose X over Y in this sentence.
X ) of all the people..............the best known is Martin Luther
y ) Martin Luther is the best known religious reformer...........among all.

I exactly don't know the grammatical reason behind this but I think that "know" always need a object.
We don't say :
I know. ( its a incomplete sentence and so it requires a object)- same construction - "Martin Luther is the best known" ....
The way to correct it is to give it a object.
I know maths. --- Martin Luther is the best known religious reformer.

But still I am not sure about the grammatical logic behind this. Need experts clarification on this.

Thanks GMATGuruNY! That does help.

Regards
Mankey

GmatKiss wrote:

GmatKiss wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

GmatKiss wrote:Of the people who brought about the reformation, the religious revolution that grew out of objections to the doctrines of the medieval church, Martin Luther is the best known of them.

(A) Martin Luther is the best known of them.
(B) the best known is Martin Luther
(C) the better known of them was Martin Luther
(D) Martin Luther is better known
(E) the best known one was Martin Luther

Better is used to compare TWO THINGS. Best is used to compare MORE THAN TWO THINGS. Since this SC is comparing the PEOPLE who brought about the reformation, better (in C and D) is incorrect. Eliminate C and D.

In A, of them is redundant with of the people. Eliminate A.

In E, was implies that Martin Luther no longer is the best known. The intended meaning of the sentence is that Martin Luther IS the best known. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is B.

Dear Mitch,

If the options were,

x) the best known is Martin Luther
y) Martin Luther is the best known

which one would you prefer?
or would you end up with the famous saying, "THE GMAT WILL NOT TEST YOU WITH BOTH THE OPTIONS"

TIA,
GK

My query is also open to all other friends in the forum

If the options would have been

x) the best known is Martin Luther
y) Martin Luther is the best known

then also I would have chosen x) over y because if you read the sentence logically then you can come to know that we require the clause to begin with the best

Of the people who brought about the reformation, <blah> <blah> <blah>,
(A) Martin Luther is the best known of them. -- Not fitting right
(B) the best known is Martin Luther --- Looks good (kept)
(C) the better known of them was Martin Luther --- Nope
(D) Martin Luther is better known --- Looks ok (kept)
(E) the best known one was Martin Luther --- Nope!

Between B and D, B is better worded.

So B.