D and E both use "as" instead of "like". Since we're comparing prose, we should use "like"; there is no action involved.

OA is C

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:D and E both use "as" instead of "like". Since we're comparing prose, we should use "like"; there is no action involved.

Like Ernest Hemingway, the prose of Cormac McCarthy is never indulgent or florid, but rather finds elegance in sparseness.


(A) Like Ernest Hemingway, the prose of Cormac McCarthy

(B) Like the prose of Ernest Hemingway, Cormac McCarthy

(C) Like Ernest Hemingway's prose, Cormac McCarthy's

(D) As with Ernest Hemingway's prose, Cormac McCarthy's

(E) As that of Ernest Hemingway, the prose of Cormac McCarthy

a) Ernet is compared to Prose of Cormac Incorrect
b) Prose of Ernest is compared to Cormac Incorrect
c) Ernest's prose is compared to Cormac's prose correct
d)& e) see below for details Incorrect

you make comparisons with AS when you compare clauses (things that have real VERBS), or prepositional phrases.

For more details refer this post by Ron.


LIKE / AS RULE:

first of all, these rules are concerned with what COMES AFTER the "like" or "as". it makes no difference what comes before (as long as you have words that make sense).

you make comparisons with LIKE when you compare nouns, or noun phrases. i.e., anything that doesn't have a VERB.
(exception: prepositional phrases take "as" -- see below)
note that there may be modifiers attached to these nouns; if there are, you don't care. modifiers are disposable.

you make comparisons with AS when you compare clauses (things that have real VERBS), or prepositional phrases.

when you're deciding whether something is a clause or just a noun phrase, remember that -ING FORMS DO NOT COUNT AS VERBS (unless there's a helping verb attached to them).

examples:
those babies are cute, like little pandas sliding down rainbows
--> correct
note that:
* "sliding" is NOT a verb.
* "sliding down rainbows" is a modifier, and thus doesn't have to be considered in the grammar of the sentence.

those babies are cute, as are little pandas that slide down rainbows
--> correct
* "are" is a verb, so this is a clause.
* "that slide..." DOES NOT count, since it's part of a modifier.

those babies are cute, like little pandas that slide down rainbows
--> correct
* "little pandas" is a noun.
* "that slide..." DOES NOT count, since it's part of a modifier.

Our family lives on a farm now, as in the 19th century.
--> correct (prepositional phrases take "as")