like vs as

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like vs as

by heffsz » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:27 pm
OG #122

More than 30 years ago Dr. Barbara McClintock, the nobel Prize winner, reported that genes can "jump" as pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another.

(a)
(b) like pearls moving mysteriously from one necklace to another
(c) as pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(d) like pearls do that move mysteriously from one necklace to others
(e) as do pearls that move mysteriously from one necklace to some other one

[spoiler]the correct answer is (b) but im thoroughly confused on why its "like" vs "as". from what i recall from random flash cards and mgmat lessons, "like" is used to compare nouns to nouns while "as" is used to compare nouns taking action to nouns taking action. could someone please clarify this rule? it seems to be constantly tripping me up. here it seems to me that genes jump and pearls are moving, which led me to choose the incorrect answer (a) instead of (b). thanks![/spoiler]
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by vittalgmat » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:54 pm
Here is what I think. Pls correct me if I am wrong.

You are right about the function of like and as, as described in MGMTSC et al. Here the actions are not really being compared. The nouns genes are compared with pearls. If the sentence said "jumping genes" instead of "genes can jump", then 'as' needs to be used in the comparison.

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