Rust

[crackgmat007]

Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it will snap easily, as though it was a twig.
will snap easily, as though it was a twig
will snap easily, like a twig does
will snap easily, as though it is a twig
might snap easily, as though it was a twig
will snap easily, as though it were a twig

[spoiler]We need to use subjuctive mood because the sentence describes a hypothetical event. Ex. If I were rich, I would..... Here were & would are important signals to use subjuctive. But in E (OA), would is not used. Is it correct?[/spoiler]

[BrianSmith]

I don't think it's a subjunctive\conditional case. In such a case it would be:

'it would snap if it were a twig'

however 'as though' is like 'as if' (not just 'if'). So it's E, simply because 'if' is never followed by 'was'; this also applies to 'as if'\'as though' constructions.

[crackgmat007]

MGMAT SC guide states that if 'as if', 'as though', 'if', are used, then hypothetical subjunctive mood may be required.