While leading Soviet Union....

[EricLien9122]

While leading Soviet Union, Gorbachev was torn between defending his communist principles and the reduction of repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

A. between defending his communist principles and the reduction of repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

B. between the defense of his communist principles and reducing of repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

C. among defending his communist principles and the reducing of repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

D. among defending his communist principles and the reduction of repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

E. between defending his communist principles and reducing the repression and inefficiency in Soviet life.

OA:E


My question is:

Since it's listing 3 things, shouldn't you use among instead between? Please explain if you can. I appreciate any input.

[parallel_chase]

parallelism

leading - defending - reducing

among is used for 3 or more elements

two things - "between" - "and"

here "Gorbachev was torn between defending and reducing"

[EricLien9122]

I see, I guess the structure of the sentence threw me off a bit. Thanks for the help.

[stop@800]

Clear picture of parallel items

Gorbachev was torn between
defending his communist principles and
reducing the repression and
inefficiency in Soviet life.

[Stuart@KaplanGMAT]

Clear picture of parallel items

Gorbachev was torn between
defending his communist principles and
reducing the repression and
inefficiency in Soviet life.

It should be split up as:

Gorbachev was torn between

(a) defending his communist principles

and

(b) reducing the repression and inefficiency in Soviet life

which is why "between" is correct.

As noted above, focus on the verbs. Gorbachev was torn between "defending blah blah blah and reducing blah blah blah".