Galileo

[ketkoag]

Not since Galileo suffered the “scurvy humor” of the Inquisition has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue a theory.

(A) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue

(C) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist to pursue

Please explain me the difference between A and C.

[kc_raj]

IMO C is correct,

in C, has ....curbed the ability.... to ....is correct (ability to is correct idiom)
In A, has....curbed the ability.... that...is incorrect idiom (ability that)

[commit.gmat]

Isn't the idiom used here so X that Y ?

(A) has a religious organization SO effectively curbed ... THAT he could pursue

(C) has a religious organization SO effectively curbed ... to pursue

IMO A

[nitya34]

agreed

IMO C is correct,

in C, has ....curbed the ability.... to ....is correct (ability to is correct idiom)
In A, has....curbed the ability.... that...is incorrect idiom (ability that)

[schumi_gmat]

agreed

IMO C is correct,

in C, has ....curbed the ability.... to ....is correct (ability to is correct idiom)
In A, has....curbed the ability.... that...is incorrect idiom (ability that)

Can you explain why idiom "so X that Y" is not tested in this example?

[ajay_deepak]

Even if you consider so X that Y, are X and Y parallel here? No.
Moreover ability to is a correct idiom.

[rahulg83]

whats the OA?