Need expert help with Knewton question

GmatGuruNY , Could You please also tell what does with more intense efforts to save in planning modify in C

GMATGuruNY wrote:

voodoo_child wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

voodoo_child wrote:Publishers of travel guides for families typically suffer weak Januaries, because vacation budgets are low and efforts to save are intense as families plan for the calendar year ahead.


(A) low and efforts to save are intense as families plan

(B) low and their efforts to save are intense as they plan

(C) low with more intense efforts to save in planning

(D) low, while efforts to save are more intense to plan

(E) low, while their efforts to save are more intense in planning

OA - A
My answer was correct. However, I am not sure why C) is incorrect.

In C, D and E, the comparison implied by more intense is unclear. MORE intense THAN what? Eliminate C, D and E.

In B, their lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate B.

The correct answer is A.

Mitch,
Thanks for clarifying. I have a follow-up question - "more" can be used as an adverb. e.g.

The party grew more interesting ?

Correct? I thought that "more" is used as an adverb modifying "intense".

Can you please correct my thought, please? In fact, your explanation is in-line with Knewton's explanation. I feel that I am definitely missing something.

Thanks for your help.

Thanks
Voodoo

It is clear that more is an adverb modifying intense.
What isn't clear is the meaning:

more INTENSE than EXCITING?
more intense IN JANUARIES than in APRILS?
more intense EFFORTS TO SAVE than EFFORTS TO INVEST?

Since it's not clear what's being compared, eliminate C, D and E.

Be skeptical of an answer choice that includes more without than.

Thanks Mitch. Is there a reason why you said be "skeptical." I am trying to understand - under what conditions can we use "more" without than esp. for GMAT? The reason why I am asking is that I have seen a number of sentences in which "more" is used without "than"

As for example (from m-w dictionary)
<More used as an adjective>
I felt more pain after the procedure, not less.
The new engine has even more power.

<More used as an adverb>
The players grew more intense as the game went on.
In fact, the above sentence is quite similar to GMAT/Knewton question!

I don't know conclusively as to how GMAT would treat these sentences. I have a bad feeling that I am missing some concept.

Can you please share some insight?

Thanks

voodoo_child wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

voodoo_child wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

voodoo_child wrote:Publishers of travel guides for families typically suffer weak Januaries, because vacation budgets are low and efforts to save are intense as families plan for the calendar year ahead.


(A) low and efforts to save are intense as families plan

(B) low and their efforts to save are intense as they plan

(C) low with more intense efforts to save in planning

(D) low, while efforts to save are more intense to plan

(E) low, while their efforts to save are more intense in planning

OA - A
My answer was correct. However, I am not sure why C) is incorrect.

In C, D and E, the comparison implied by more intense is unclear. MORE intense THAN what? Eliminate C, D and E.

In B, their lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate B.

The correct answer is A.

Mitch,
Thanks for clarifying. I have a follow-up question - "more" can be used as an adverb. e.g.

The party grew more interesting ?

Correct? I thought that "more" is used as an adverb modifying "intense".

Can you please correct my thought, please? In fact, your explanation is in-line with Knewton's explanation. I feel that I am definitely missing something.

Thanks for your help.

Thanks
Voodoo

It is clear that more is an adverb modifying intense.
What isn't clear is the meaning:

more INTENSE than EXCITING?
more intense IN JANUARIES than in APRILS?
more intense EFFORTS TO SAVE than EFFORTS TO INVEST?

Since it's not clear what's being compared, eliminate C, D and E.

Be skeptical of an answer choice that includes more without than.

Thanks Mitch. Is there a reason why you said be "skeptical." I am trying to understand - under what conditions can we use "more" without than esp. for GMAT? The reason why I am asking is that I have seen a number of sentences in which "more" is used without "than"

As for example (from m-w dictionary)
<More used as an adjective>
I felt more pain after the procedure, not less.
The new engine has even more power.

<More used as an adverb>
The players grew more intense as the game went on.
In fact, the above sentence is quite similar to GMAT/Knewton question!

I don't know conclusively as to how GMAT would treat these sentences. I have a bad feeling that I am missing some concept.

Can you please share some insight?

Thanks

Please check my post here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/shouldnt-mor ... tml#400049