as vs like

[nikhilsrl]

In Turkey, coffee is traditionally drunk very strong, much as the French do .

A) much as the French do
B) much like the French do
C) much as it is by the French
D) much as it is in France
E) much like it is in France

OA is D

This is taken from Kaplan CAT. Confused between D & E, please explain.

[Tani]

"as" is followed by a verb phrase, "like is followed by a noun phrase.

[tetura84]

In Turkey, coffee is traditionally drunk very strong, much as the French do .

A) much as the French do
B) much like the French do
C) much as it is by the French
D) much as it is in France
E) much like it is in France

OA is D

This is taken from Kaplan CAT. Confused between D & E, please explain.

Here we have a comparison, the way coffee is drunk in Turkey vs the way coffee is drunk in French.
So, only French will not help, we need some reference to refer the action. A & B out.
By is not good here, since the comparison is between in Turkey .... in French. C out.

Remember, as is used to compare verb phrases and prepositional phrases
like is used to compare noun phrases.
D is winner.

[saurabh_maths]

It shd be D.

'Like' when used as a preposition is used to compare two nouns.

'As' is a subordinating conjuction & is used to introduce a dependent clause. Also we know clause shd have a subject and verb.

So D has a subject and verb in it and it properly compares the verb phrases.