Sentence Correction

Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

A) more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

B) more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

C) as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than

D) as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for

E) as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for

OA IS C

Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

A) more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

B) more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

C) as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than - CORRECT CONSTRUCTION

D) as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for - RUN ON

E) as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for

IMO:C

Hi GMAT Kiss,

Can you please explain a little bit more in detail i.e why "more as a substitute for 4 quarters is wrong" ?

By placing "more" at the beginning you set up the contrast to begin right there and it does not work.

Look at B, you would need to say "more as a substitute for four quarters than as a substitute for the dollar bill. In italics is what is missing if you begin the contrast to early.

Whereas with choice C, the "more" comes after the phrase "as a substitute" and so this is distributed to both parts of the comparison. Replacing the words with x and y we can say "as a substitute for x more than (implied: as a substitute) for y"

Does that make sense?

aspirant2011 wrote:Hi GMAT Kiss,

Can you please explain a little bit more in detail i.e why "more as a substitute for 4 quarters is wrong" ?

I feel "more as a substitute" and "as a substitute more" -- both have different meanings.

David@VeritasPrep wrote:By placing "more" at the beginning you set up the contrast to begin right there and it does not work.

Look at B, you would need to say "more as a substitute for four quarters than as a substitute for the dollar bill. In italics is what is missing if you begin the contrast to early.

Whereas with choice C, the "more" comes after the phrase "as a substitute" and so this is distributed to both parts of the comparison. Replacing the words with x and y we can say "as a substitute for x more than (implied: as a substitute) for y"

Does that make sense?

thanks a lot David

David@VeritasPrep wrote:By placing "more" at the beginning you set up the contrast to begin right there and it does not work.

Look at B, you would need to say "more as a substitute for four quarters than as a substitute for the dollar bill. In italics is what is missing if you begin the contrast to early.

Whereas with choice C, the "more" comes after the phrase "as a substitute" and so this is distributed to both parts of the comparison. Replacing the words with x and y we can say "as a substitute for x more than (implied: as a substitute) for y"

Does that make sense?

In addition to what David said we can also eliminate the choices based on "its weight...only" which is wrong...."it weighs...only" is correct...so with this we can eliminate A,D,E...We will be left with B,C...Then we can apply the priciple David has explained to us...
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If iam wrong please correct if i am correct and it helped plz hit Thanks

Hi David,

I have one doubt i.e isn't More X than Y the right usage?????

aspirant2011 wrote:Hi David,

I have one doubt i.e isn't More X than Y the right usage?????

Yes see OG 12 diagnostic problem 48.

Certainly "more x than y" is correct in general.

In this case however, B says "more as a substitute for X than Y" This is not parallel and is also not logical in meaning. You need to say "more as a substitute for x than as a substitute for y."

Or you can say, as the correct answer does, "As a substitute for x more than for y."

So in general you are correct but make sure you have the same things being compared for x and y. When you take things down to "x" and "y" they need be parallel. You could take "baskets of apples" and "bags of oranges" down to "x" and "y." But you could not take "salaries of vice-presidents" and "executives" down to "x" and "y." Because they are not parallel.

David@VeritasPrep wrote:Certainly "more x than y" is correct in general.

In this case however, B says "more as a substitute for X than Y" This is not parallel and is also not logical in meaning. You need to say "more as a substitute for x than as a substitute for y."

Or you can say, as the correct answer does, "As a substitute for x more than for y."

So in general you are correct but make sure you have the same things being compared for x and y. When you take things down to "x" and "y" they need be parallel. You could take "baskets of apples" and "bags of oranges" down to "x" and "y." But you could not take "salaries of vice-presidents" and "executives" down to "x" and "y." Because they are not parallel.

Got it thanks a lot ............