Just like / Just as / As with / As / Similar to (Idioms & Comparisons)

2. today, often being / is today often / being today often / often the case today / today, often (Diction
& Parallelism)

Let’s start with #1 on our list, which is mainly deciding between using “like” or “as” for this particular
comparison. We understand that like vs. as can get confusing, but here is an easy way to think about it when
comparing two things:
Like = used to compare two nouns; the word after “like” should be a noun
As = used to compare two actions or verbs; the work after “as” can be either a noun or verb

So what are we really comparing here? The Internet and the telegraph? NO! We’re comparing what the Internet is
called to what the telegraph used to be called. That means we’re comparing two actions - not two nouns! Let’s see
how our options break down:

A) Just like the Internet today, often being

B) Just as the Internet is today often
C) As with the Internet being today often
D) As is often the case today with the Internet,
E) Similar to the Internet today, often
(Note: ”like” and “similar to” are the same thing, and follow the same rules)

We can eliminate options A & E because they use some version of “like” to compare two actions, which isn’t
correct. Now that we have it narrowed down, let’s tackle #2 on our list. We mainly need to make sure the meaning is
clear and logical, while also ensuring the two things being compared are parallel. (To make problems easier to spot,
we’ve added in the non-underlined parts.)

B) Just as the Internet is today often called an “information superhighway,” the telegraph was described in its day
as an “instantaneous highway of thought.” This is our CORRECT choice! The two items being compared are parallel,
and the way they’re worded is rather parallel too. It’s also clear and logical for readers.

C) As with the Internet being today often called an “information superhighway,” the telegraph was described in its
day as an “instantaneous highway of thought.” This is INCORRECT because “as with” is not an idiomatically correct
way to talk about comparisons. Also, the phrase “being today often” is incredibly awkward and confusing!

D) As is often the case today with the Internet, called an “information superhighway,” the telegraph was
described in its day as an “instantaneous highway of thought.”
This is INCORRECT because the comparison is no longer parallel! By making the phrase “called an ‘information
highway’” a non-essential phrase, we’re now comparing the Internet (a noun) with “the telegraph was described in
its day as an ‘instantaneous highway of thought’” (an action).
A simple and methodical approach: There are two subjects namely 1. The singular ‘direction’ for the
main clause and a compound and plural subject for the sub-clause ‘the Earth and the other solid
planets’. Now we must match them with suitable verbs

The main verb has to be singular; therefore, ‘was determined’ is appropriate. A plural verb is
required for the sub-clause; therefore, ‘spin’ is apt.

Only D and E have the combination of both these verbs. E is lost because a determination or
solution itself is a result and therefore ‘determined as a result of’ is unduly superfluous and
repetitive. ‘Determined by’ is the accepted idiom. D is the choice
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is
that the combination of a reliable supply of water and good growing conditions encouraged farming traditions that
have endured for at least 6,000 years.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Awkwardness/Redundancy
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that
concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that
started in past and continue into the present.

A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "endure in at least 6,000 years"; the
construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the farming traditions in
question have endured for at least 6,000 years. Further, Option A redundantly uses "combination" alongside "both";
this usage is redundant, as both terms convey the same information.

B: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "endured for at least 6,000 years", conveying the intended meaning
- that the farming traditions in question have endured for at least 6,000 years. Further, Option B correctly uses the
simple past tense verb "encouraged" to refer to an event that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option B correctly
uses the present perfect tense verb "have...endured" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to
affect the present. Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "have encouraged" to refer to an action
that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the
past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events
that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the simple past tense
verb "endured" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember,
the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that
concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that
concluded in the past.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "endured at least 6,000 years"; the
construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the farming traditions in
question have endured for at least 6,000 years. Further, Option D redundantly uses "combination" alongside "both";
this usage is redundant, as both terms convey the same information. Moreover.
E: remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe
events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the present perfect continuous tense
(marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the
present.
1. and the / and / and its / along with their / along with its (Construction & Pronouns)
2. is / are (Agreement)

Since #2 on our list is a clear either/or split, let’s start there! No matter which one we choose, we’ll
eliminate 2-3 options rather quickly! How many different causes do scientists cite as causing species
extinction? Two! Let’s make sure that the verb we choose reflects the plural antecedent:

A) expansion and the human appropriation of Earth's finite resources is

B) expansion and human appropriation of Earth's finite resources are

C) expansion and its appropriation of Earth's finite resources is

D) expansion, along with their appropriation of Earth's finite resources, is

E) expansion, along with its appropriation of Earth's finite resources, are

We can eliminate options A, C, & D because they all use the singular “is” to refer to 2 causes, which
doesn’t match up. Now that we have our options narrowed down to only 2, let’s tackle #1 on our
list:

B) expansion and human appropriation of Earth's finite resources are

This is our CORRECT choice! The meaning is concise and clear, the correct verb “are” matches the
plural antecedent, and there are no vague pronouns.

E) expansion, along with its appropriation of Earth's finite resources, are

This is INCORRECT because the pronoun “its” is too vague. It’s not clear what “its” is referring to.
Even if it were referring to “humans,” that’s a plural term and should therefore use a plural pronoun
anyway!
1. which is sent / which are sent / sent / sending them / being sent (Construction & Logic)
2. and then to a car / to a car’s / and then directly to a car / to a car (Idioms)

Let’s start with #2 on our list, which deals with idioms - a much easier thing to test for than #1 on
our list. The idiom we’re dealing with is “from X to Y.” We need to eliminate any that don’t follow
this format:

A) which is sent directly from earthbound towers and then to a car

B) which are sent directly from earthbound towers to a car's
C) sent from earthbound towers and then directly to a car
D) sending them directly from earthbound towers to a car's
E) being sent directly from earthbound towers to a car

We can eliminate options A & C because they don’t follow the “from X to Y” idiom format. Now that
we have it narrowed down to only 3 options, let’s tackle #1 on our list. We need to make sure that
this phrase, which is meant to modify “those of AM and FM radio,” is worded clearly and doesn’t
change the intended meaning:

B) which are sent directly from earthbound towers to a car's

This is CORRECT! The “which” modifier clearly refers back to “those of AM and FM radio” and keeps
the intended meaning clear.

D) sending them directly from earthbound towers to a car's

This is INCORRECT because an “-ing” modifier is not needed here. The pronoun “them” is referring
back to “those of AM and FM radio,” which doesn’t make sense. Transmissions cannot send
transmissions on their own. Therefore, we need to rule this out because it’s confusing and illogical.

E) being sent directly from earthbound towers to a car

This is also INCORRECT because the “-ing” modifier here also doesn’t work. It actually creates a
parallelism problem! Instead of comparing satellite transmissions to AM/FM radio transmissions, this
is trying to compare satellite transmissions to only those AM/FM radio transmissions that come from
earthbound towers - not all AM/FM radio transmissions.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Grammatical Construction +
Comparison + Parallelism

• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is
used for giving examples.
• A comparison must always be made between similar elements.
• If a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.
• Semicolons or "comma + conjunction" are used for introducing an independent clause.
• "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the
comma.
• Statements of universal fact are best conveyed through the simple present tense.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "being" in this sentence)
to refer to a statement of universal fact; remember, statements of universal fact are best conveyed
through the simple present tense. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the "comma + conjunction
("yet" in this sentence)" construction to join two elements in a list - the verb phrases "are in motion"
and "being so far away from the Earth"; please remember, if a list contains only two elements, they
must be joined by a conjunction.

B: Correct. This answer choice acts upon the independent noun "the stars" with the active verb
phrase "are in motion" to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Moreover,
Option B correctly uses the clause "but they (the stars) are so far away from the Earth...lifetime",
conveying the intended meaning - that some of the stars are in motion at tremendous speeds but
are so far away from the Earth that their apparent positions in the sky do not change enough for
their movement to be observed during a single human lifetime. Further, Option B correctly uses the
simple present tense verb "are" to refer to a statement of universal fact. Additionally, Option B
correctly uses the "comma + conjunction ("but" in this case")" construction to join the independent
clauses "the stars are in motion" and "that...are so far away from the Earth...lifetime"; remember,
semicolons or "comma + conjunction" are used for introducing an independent clause. Besides,
Option B correctly uses "Like" to compare the nouns "the planets" and "the stars".
C: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; since "Although like the planets the stars
are in motion" is a dependent clause, and "yet so far away from the Earth...lifetime" is a modifying
phrase, the sentence lacks an independent subject noun.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses "As" to compare two nouns; please remember, “like” is used
for comparing nouns, and “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses.

E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to "the planets" with the "which" phrase "some of which at
tremendous speeds are in motion but...lifetime", incorrectly implying that some of the planets are in
motion at tremendous speeds but are so far away from the Earth that their apparent positions in the
sky do not change enough for their movement to be observed during a single human lifetime; the
intended meaning is that some of the stars are in motion at tremendous speeds but are so far away
from the Earth that their apparent positions in the sky do not change enough for their movement to
be observed during a single human lifetime; remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when
preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma. Further, Option E incorrectly
compares the action "are in motion" to the noun "the planets"; remember, a comparison must
always be made between similar elements.
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the
crucial part of this sentence is that before the First World War, the federal government depended on
tariffs as its main source of revenue.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Pronouns

• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + be" in this sentence) is the preferred
construction for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.
• Collective nouns ("government" in this case) are always singular.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "the federal government" with the
plural pronoun "their"; please remember, collective nouns ("government" in this case) are always
singular. Further, Option A alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "was dependent
on tariffs to be"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the federal government
depended on tariffs for the purpose of being its main source of revenue; the intended meaning is
that the federal government depended on tariffs as its main source of revenue; remember, the
infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + be" in this sentence) is the preferred
construction for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.

B: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun "the federal government" with
the singular pronoun "its". Further, Option B uses the phrase "depended on tariffs as its main source
of revenue", conveying the intended meaning - that the federal government depended on
tariffs as its main source of revenue; in other words, the tariffs themselves were the federal
government's main source of revenue. Additionally, Option B is free of any awkwardness or
redundancy.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "was dependent on to
be"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the federal government depended on
tariffs for the purpose of being its main source of revenue; the intended meaning is that the federal
government depended on tariffs as its main source of revenue; remember, the infinitive verb form
("to + base form of verb" - "to + be" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to
the purpose or intent of an action. Further, Option C uses the passive voice construction "were what
the federal government was dependent on", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "main source of
revenue...was dependent on tariffs"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the
federal government's main source of revenue depended on tariffs; the intended meaning is that the
federal government's main source of revenue was the tariffs themselves.

E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "the federal government" with the
plural pronoun "their"; please remember, collective nouns ("government" in this case) are always
singular. Further, Option E uses the passive construction "tariffs were depended on by the federal
government", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.