Sentence Correction

In many upper-class Egyptian homes, French was spoken within the family, just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy.
(A) just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy
(B) just like it once had been among the Russian aristocracy
(C) just as the Russian aristocracy had once done
(D) similar to what the Russian aristocracy had done once
(E) like what had once been done by the Russian aristocracy

Doubt: Why cannot "D" be the correct answer?

Correct Answer is "A".

Source: Test Code 42 GMAT Test Paper

keepsmilinyaar wrote:In many upper-class Egyptian homes, French was spoken within the family, just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy.
(A) just as it had once been among the Russian aristocracy
(B) just like it once had been among the Russian aristocracy
(C) just as the Russian aristocracy had once done
(D) similar to what the Russian aristocracy had done once
(E) like what had once been done by the Russian aristocracy

Doubt: Why cannot "D" be the correct answer?

Correct Answer is "A".

Source: Test Code 42 GMAT Test Paper

Use "like" for nouns and "as" for verbs.

"was spoken" is correctly denoted by "had once been" -- "done"
doesn't correctly indicate "was spoken"

Use "like" for nouns and "as" for verbs.

Bob is dressed like Bill
Bob is dressed as Bill is.

You can use 'as' for verbs as long as a clause follows.

Just as ...... for example
Just Like.....makes a comparision
Answer can't be D becuase similar to....changes the meaning of original sentence. Original sentence says for example(just like) and the choice d says similar to .. which changes the meaning of sentence

Option A: This question satisfies the rule of Concord and parallelism and it proper fits the preceding sentence.

Option B. This option is wrongly constructed.

Option C. This option suffers parallelism. Therefore, incorrect.

Option D. 'had done once' this is wrong placed and thus, incorrect.

Option E. 'like'? this is an improper word to use here and definitely incorrect.