Most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had lower circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996 than a similar period a year earlier.
(A) a similar period
(B) a similar period's
(C) in a similar period
(D) that in a similar period
(E) that of a similar period
[spoiler]OA: C[/spoiler]
Target Test Prep is 20% off right now!
Use code FLASH20
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
OG: Most of the country’s biggest
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
Keith@ThePrincetonReview
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2018 6:26 am
- Followed by:1 members
Timer
00:00
Your Answer
A
B
C
D
E
Global Stats
The sentence makes a comparison, so look for comparison errors.NandishSS wrote:Most of the country's biggest daily newspapers had lower circulation in the six months from October 1995 through March 1996 than a similar period a year earlier.
(A) a similar period
(B) a similar period's
(C) in a similar period
(D) that in a similar period
(E) that of a similar period
[spoiler]OA: C[/spoiler]
As the sentence is originally written, circulation in the six months is compared to a similar period.
In other words, newspaper circulation is compared to a period of time, rather than to newspaper circulation during that period of time.
The items compared are not similar enough to sustain a comparison, so eliminate choice A.
Choices B and E introduce modifier errors by ascribing the circulation to a similar period, rather than to most of the country's biggest daily newspapers.
Choice B introduces this error by employing an apostrophe, which signifies possession.
Choice E makes this error by introducing the prepositional phrase "of a similar period", in which the preposition "of" signifies belonging.
Choices D and E are less concise because they employ the pronoun "that" to refer to "circulation".
The sentence aims to compare newspaper circulation in one period to newspaper circulation in another, similar period.
Since the sentence cannot be reasonably construed to compare anything else, there's no need to refer to "circulation" twice.
Choice C correctly compares newspaper circulation in the six months from October 1995 to March 1996 to newspaper circulation in a similar period.
Note that the prepositional phrases, "in the six months" and "in a similar period", are constructed in parallel.
When a word or phrase introduces or follows one item in a comparison, it should also introduce or follow the other item in a comparison.
Since the first item in the comparison is followed by the prepositional phrase "in the six months", the second item in the comparison should also be followed by a prepositional phrase that begins with the preposition "in".
The correct answer is choice C.
-
deloitte247
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 2214
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:22 pm
- Followed by:5 members
Timer
00:00
Your Answer
A
B
C
D
E
Global Stats
Option A: Wrong
The writer's view is contradicted by this sentence because it represents a comparison of courses between the main clause and directly with '' a similar period'' with the use of ''than'' anything most especially an adjectival phrase follows it further subjects it to comparisons.
Option B: Wrong
This is grammatically incorrect with the use of apostrophe which ordinarily should be used in case of possession- based- statements. It is a case of grammatical blunder and it does not belong in the sentence it has been so used.
Option C: Right
''In a similar period''it is for sure a phrase with the absence of a verb but the participation of the preposition ''in'' which is used to connect the adjectival phrase to the main clause. It is always objective to use a preposition as a connector here and in similar events.
Option D: Wrong
''That'' is a demonstrative pronoun which seeks to analyze events in similar terms not in plural capacity as it has been used here. It'd have been also correct if ''six months'' had not been used in the original statement.
Option E: Wrong
''That'' still, emphasis is placed on the word 'that' for its plurality and its wrong lexical usage which is without recourse to the basics, terms and conditions of lexis and structure analysis.
The writer's view is contradicted by this sentence because it represents a comparison of courses between the main clause and directly with '' a similar period'' with the use of ''than'' anything most especially an adjectival phrase follows it further subjects it to comparisons.
Option B: Wrong
This is grammatically incorrect with the use of apostrophe which ordinarily should be used in case of possession- based- statements. It is a case of grammatical blunder and it does not belong in the sentence it has been so used.
Option C: Right
''In a similar period''it is for sure a phrase with the absence of a verb but the participation of the preposition ''in'' which is used to connect the adjectival phrase to the main clause. It is always objective to use a preposition as a connector here and in similar events.
Option D: Wrong
''That'' is a demonstrative pronoun which seeks to analyze events in similar terms not in plural capacity as it has been used here. It'd have been also correct if ''six months'' had not been used in the original statement.
Option E: Wrong
''That'' still, emphasis is placed on the word 'that' for its plurality and its wrong lexical usage which is without recourse to the basics, terms and conditions of lexis and structure analysis.
