1000 SC 878

[gter]

878. Trying to learn some of the basics of programming is the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager: some people end up going to engineering school, and others, twenty years later, remember nothing of the experience.
(A) the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager
(B) similar to a teenager tinkering with a car
(C) like tinkering with a car as a teenager
(D) the same as a teenager tinkering with a car
(E) like the teenager’s tinkering with a car


Can someone please explain why the answer is A and not C? I think they both suck, but a does not seem parallel while uses like incorrectly. Why is A the lesser of two evils?

[dbernst]

gter, I'm with you on this one: both answer choices are questionable and I don't think either would be acceptable as a response on an official GMAT. However, if you put a gun to my head (or, for that matter, a hot dog to my mouth), this vegetarian would go with C.

The subject of the initial clause is trying, and thus is not parallal with to tinker ; moreover, were we to assume that the "trying" is implied in the second clause, there is still a problem with clarity of meaning: "trying to learn" something is not the same as "(trying) to tinker" with something - these actions might be similar, but they surely are not identical. To indicate similarity, "like" is the appropriate word choice.

Choice C, the best of five relatively poor options, indicates that Trying (to learn some of the basics) is like tinkering (with a car). As this sentence exhibits proper parallelism and word choice, it should be the credited response.

-dan

878. Trying to learn some of the basics of programming is the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager: some people end up going to engineering school, and others, twenty years later, remember nothing of the experience.
(A) the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager
(B) similar to a teenager tinkering with a car
(C) like tinkering with a car as a teenager
(D) the same as a teenager tinkering with a car
(E) like the teenager’s tinkering with a car


Can someone please explain why the answer is A and not C? I think they both suck, but a does not seem parallel while uses like incorrectly. Why is A the lesser of two evils?

[kiranck007]

878. Trying to learn some of the basics of programming is the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager: some people end up going to engineering school, and others, twenty years later, remember nothing of the experience.
(A) the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager
(B) similar to a teenager tinkering with a car
(C) like tinkering with a car as a teenager
(D) the same as a teenager tinkering with a car
(E) like the teenager’s tinkering with a car


Can someone please explain why the answer is A and not C? I think they both suck, but a does not seem parallel while uses like incorrectly. Why is A the lesser of two evils?

Hi,

Can like be used to compare phrases? I thought like is strictly used for only nouns.

[jlucero]

878. Trying to learn some of the basics of programming is the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager: some people end up going to engineering school, and others, twenty years later, remember nothing of the experience.
(A) the same as to tinker with a car when one is a teenager
(B) similar to a teenager tinkering with a car
(C) like tinkering with a car as a teenager
(D) the same as a teenager tinkering with a car
(E) like the teenager’s tinkering with a car


Can someone please explain why the answer is A and not C? I think they both suck, but a does not seem parallel while uses like incorrectly. Why is A the lesser of two evils?

Hi,

Can like be used to compare phrases? I thought like is strictly used for only nouns.

Edit:

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