In its most recent approach,

[varunmehta.ism]

In its most recent approach, the comet Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position, some 25 degrees above the horizon, that Halley’s comet will pass the next time it appears.

(A) that Halley’s comet will pass
(B) that Halley’s comet is to be passing
(C) as Halley’s comet
(D) as will Halley’s comet
(E) as Halley’s comet will do

what should be the Answer?
I went with A.
Source: Grockit

[ghag.kamlesh]

Hi,

I think this sentence is comparing the position and distance of the comet (Crommelin) with Halley's Comet. So, the comparison marker "as" should fit in here.

Secondly, if we ignore, for time being, the modifier stuff - then the sentence would look like something as follows:

...., the comet Crommelin passed the Earth at about the same distance and in about the same position,... that Halley’s comet will pass the next time it appears.

In addition, same as is an idiom, so we can rule out option A and B.

Option C : changes the meaning. So, it is wrong.

Option E : verb "do" is not parallel to verb "pass", and thus incorrect.

Therefore, the best option is option D. Let us wait for instructor's comment.

Thanks.

Kamlesh

[varunmehta.ism]

Lets convert the above complex sentence into following simple structure:

A) CC did the same thing that HC will do.

D) HC did the same thing as will HC.

This makes me feel that A is correct; The word 'same' changes meaning. D would have been correct if sentence had been like 'HC did the thing x as will HC'.

Thanks

Varun

[ghag.kamlesh]

Well, my opinion differs from yours:

E.g. 1. The sketch looks THE SAME TO me AS TO you.
2. I drove to the water-park AT THE SAME TIME AS you (did).

I think the meaning of original sentence gets distorted in terms of construction and this is fixed by using idiom ( Same ... as) in the option D. I still do not fully convinced with the construction of option A.

Thanks.
Kamlesh

[jlucero]

First off, I googled this question and found it to be on 1000SC. I'm not sure if 1000SC got it from grockit, but 1000SC is not a great resource for questions for reasons like this. You can use each of those two formats:

I saw the same thing that you did.
I saw the same thing as you.

If I had to go with an answer, I prefer A to D because of the part that comes after the comparison:

the comet passed the Earth at the same distance as will Halley’s comet the next time it appears.

I don't have a grammatical reason here, but "as will HC the next time it appears" sounds wordy and awkward here. Moral of the story, don't get bogged down with questions that aren't from an official source.