gmat prep 2

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gmat prep 2

by jainrahul1985 » Sun Aug 22, 2010 12:48 am
Although the turtle has been toothless for more than 150 million years, in some contemporary turtle species the moderately sharp and jagged edges of their horny jaws function for teeth.

(A) their horny jaws function for teeth
(B) its horny jaws function for teeth
(C) its horny jaws function as do teeth
(D) the horny jaws function as teeth do
(E) the horny jaws function as teeth

Can anyone please explain why D is wrong and E is correct
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by this_time_i_will » Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:02 am
Redading the original sentence it is easy to figure out that author wants to convey that (the sharp and jagged) edges (of their horny jaw) functions as teeth. That is a noun-to-noun comparision. Here the usage of as is in the context of "in the capacity of" (= as in I work as a teacher.).
In D the comparision is between the functioning of edges and the functioning of teeth.
Also, it is important to note that the problem avoids any controversy by conspicuously not bringing any option with like.

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by GMATGuruNY » Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:20 am
jainrahul1985 wrote:Although the turtle has been toothless for more than 150 million years, in some contemporary turtle species the moderately sharp and jagged edges of their horny jaws function for teeth.

(A) their horny jaws function for teeth
(B) its horny jaws function for teeth
(C) its horny jaws function as do teeth
(D) the horny jaws function as teeth do
(E) the horny jaws function as teeth

Can anyone please explain why D is wrong and E is correct
Quickest approach:

The correct idiom is X functions as Y. Eliminate A and B.

In C and D, the inclusion of do changes the meaning:

The jaws function as teeth. (This means that the jaws substitute for teeth. In other words, the jaws and teeth play the same role: both are used to eat. This is the intended meaning of the sentence.)
The jaws function as teeth do. (This means that the jaws and teeth operate the same way. This is not the intended meaning of the sentence. The jaws and teeth work differently.)

Eliminate C and D. The correct answer is E.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Tommy Wallach » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:54 am
Just a quick addition, considering what "This Time I will" said.

There are actually 2 different words that look like this: "as".

"As" as a PREPOSITION is the way it's being used here: "He did good work as governor."

"As" as a CONJUNCTION is used for comparisons: "He is as quiet as a lamb."

THIS SENTENCE DOES NOT HAVE A COMPARISON, which generally asks you to choose between "like" and "as" (like is for nouns, as is for clauses). It's a good thing, too, because "as" would be wrong here (no clause).

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