Like many arid regions, Ariba must import many of its fruits

[BTGmoderatorRO]

Like many arid regions, Ariba must import many of its fruits and vegetables from neighboring lands.

A Like
B Just like
C As have
D As did
E Just as with
OA is a

What is the correct answer to this question, please? Can any expert help me out?
Thank you so much

[deloitte247]

Eliminate Option B and C because they are irrelevant in this context and they make the whole sentence imbalance when apply.

we are comparing two regions here on how they get fruits to their each region. "LIKE" is preferable to use in this comparison than "Just like" and "just as with" because it makes the sentence sound better and straight forward

[ErikaPrepScholar]

We can approach this a couple ways.

If we know that "like" must compare nouns, while "as" must compare verbs, we can eliminate C, D, and E immediately.

To decide between A and B, we can think about the meaning. Is Ariba "just like" many neighboring regions? Or is it only "like" its neighboring regions in this one way? Does the word "just" add to the sentence in any meaningful way?

"Just" doesn't do anything for the sentence other than to make it more extreme. So we can pick A over B.

All of that said, this isn't a particularly realistic GMAT problem - the distinction between "like" and "just like" isn't very clear. A better example can be found here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/not-unlike- ... 98507.html. The distinction between "just like" and "not unlike" is more clear.

[Akrita@Jamboree]

Like many arid regions, Ariba must import many of its fruits and vegetables from neighboring lands.

A Like
B Just like
C As have
D As did
E Just as with
OA is a

What is the correct answer to this question, please? Can any expert help me out?
Thank you so much

A is the best answer. In order to compare nouns, we want to use "Like/Unlike". For comparing actions/verbs, we use "As" - in these cases, "As" would be followed by a verb.

Example -

Mary plays as John does - In this case, we are comparing the two actions/verbs ('plays')
Mary plays like John - In this case, we are comparing two nouns - Mary and John - and not their actions.

Here, we want to compare "Ariba" with "many arid regions" (noun), so "As" is incorrect. Eliminate C, D, and E

Between A and B, "Just like" is usually incorrect on the GMAT. Eliminate B

[Terry@ThePrincetonReview]

Although we would all love to live in a world of absolutes, either like or as could be used in a situation like this. (Sit tight!) We are either comparing arid regions and Ariba (comparison of nouns, requiring "like"); or comparing the import habits of arid regions with those of Ariba (comparison of actions, requiring "as"). EITHER is valid!

Why are C through E eliminated, then? Because they lack verb parallelism! Correctly used, the sentence with "as" would read, "As do many arid regions, Ariba must import many of its fruits and vegetables from neighboring lands." This matches parallel tense with parallel tense in both clauses. It is not by mere coincidence that none of the answer choices give this option. They use the present perfect have (in choice C) or the simple past did (in choice D); both are mismatches with the present-tense verb, must import, in the main clause.

Choice B, Just like, is disqualified because it lacks concision: the word Just is unnecessary. It is also a colloquialism-that is, it's too informal. You would seldom if ever encounter this expression in formal written English.

[vietnam47]

Although we would all love to live in a world of absolutes, either like or as could be used in a situation like this. (Sit tight!) We are either comparing arid regions and Ariba (comparison of nouns, requiring "like"); or comparing the import habits of arid regions with those of Ariba (comparison of actions, requiring "as"). EITHER is valid!

Why are C through E eliminated, then? Because they lack verb parallelism! Correctly used, the sentence with "as" would read, "As do many arid regions, Ariba must import many of its fruits and vegetables from neighboring lands." This matches parallel tense with parallel tense in both clauses. It is not by mere coincidence that none of the answer choices give this option. They use the present perfect have (in choice C) or the simple past did (in choice D); both are mismatches with the present-tense verb, must import, in the main clause.

Choice B, Just like, is disqualified because it lacks concision: the word Just is unnecessary. It is also a colloquialism-that is, it's too informal. You would seldom if ever encounter this expression in formal written English.

your post is good. i just want to say something
"like" is use to say that the two nouns do the same action
"as " is used to say thay the two actions is performed in the same way.
is that correct?