Although it claims to delve into political issues,

[haj]

Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be superficial such as when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.
(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks
(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks
(C) superficial if the three major networks all
(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks
(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each

Source: GMAT Prep

I was confused between A and E. Please help.

[StaceyKoprince]

They're trying to get you to focus on "as" vs. "such as" and get hopelessly confused - and, in the meantime, they snuck a subject-verb error into answer A.

In the construction "each of the three major networks" each is the subject. Each is singular, so the verb has to be singular... but it isn't. The verb in A is "broadcast," which is plural.

In E, they move each - that one says "the three major networks each." Now, networks is the subject, and networks is plural, so the verb has to be plural... and it is!

[H]

C and E have different meanings.
What's wrong with C?

[PH]

Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be superficial such as when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.
(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks
(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks
(C) superficial if the three major networks all
(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks
(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each

From the explanation by the tutor above, I guess E is the correct answer, but isn't it possible to read EACH as the subject of the choice E as well rather than networks? In this case, this choice would not be correct since the verb BROADCAST does not agree.

How to determine that NETWORKS is the subject?

[H]

each of the three major networks - singular
the three major networks each - plural

examples:
each of the students - singular
the students each - plural

generic pattern:
each (of the/pronoun/any determiner) [noun] - singular
[noun] each - plural

please correct me if I am wrong.

thanks.

[RonPurewal]

each of the three major networks - singular
the three major networks each - plural

examples:
each of the students - singular
the students each - plural

generic pattern:
each (of the/pronoun/any determiner) [noun] - singular
[noun] each - plural

please correct me if I am wrong.

thanks.

you are not wrong.

[RonPurewal]

C and E have different meanings.
What's wrong with C?

the problem with (c) is that its meaning differs from the original meaning, while choice (e) is faithful to that original meaning. you MUST choose an answer choice that preserves the meaning of the original; the only exception to this principle occurs if the original is total nonsense (in which case you have license to change it to something that isn't nonsense).

--

by the way, is this seriously a real gmatprep problem? it's just so ... badly written!
television "claims" to do something?
not to mention the distortion of the meaning of "superficial"?
aaaaahh!

i sincerely hope this problem is not really on the gmatprep software.

[shobujgmat]

i don't know many things about the construction of the correct answer choice E
specialy "as when".

Pls shed some light on this issue

[RonPurewal]

i don't know many things about the construction of the correct answer choice E
specialy "as when".

Pls shed some light on this issue

here, "as" is being used to introduce an example.

normally, this is the domain of "such as", but i THINK that "such as" is actually restricted to nouns and to things that can function as nouns (such as gerunds and noun phrases).

since the example introduced here is a clause, not a noun, you use "as".

[nkulki]

What is wrong with B?

[veenakondaveeti]

Definitely between B and C?

I would go for B, as it carries the example only as an instance.
The three major networks broadcasting exactly the same statement is not the only case, to use an 'if'

[RonPurewal]

What is wrong with B?

entirely wrong meaning.

first of all, there's the "if..." construction. if taken literally (as you MUST do), the sentence implies only that television can be "superficial" IN THE SPECIFIC EVENT THAT all 3 major networks broadcast the same political statement.

that's not the correct meaning. the correct meaning is the general statement that television can be superficial, followed by one particular example (i.e., the example of the 3 major networks broadcasting the same statement at the same time).

"can sometimes" is also completely unnecessary and, moreover, distorts the meaning of the sentence. taken literally, this implies that, even if the 3 major networks broadcast the same statement at the same time, there is still only a chance that tv is being superficial (this is the meaning of either "can" or "sometimes" alone - let alone both of them).

[RonPurewal]

Definitely between B and C?

I would go for B, as it carries the example only as an instance.
The three major networks broadcasting exactly the same statement is not the only case, to use an 'if'

the correct answer to this problem is (e), as posted above. why would you posit a decision between two incorrect options?

[rohit21384]

C and E have different meanings.
What's wrong with C?

the problem with (c) is that its meaning differs from the original meaning, while choice (e) is faithful to that original meaning. you MUST choose an answer choice that preserves the meaning of the original; the only exception to this principle occurs if the original is total nonsense (in which case you have license to change it to something that isn't nonsense).

--

by the way, is this seriously a real gmatprep problem? it's just so ... badly written!
television "claims" to do something?
not to mention the distortion of the meaning of "superficial"?
aaaaahh!

i sincerely hope this problem is not really on the gmatprep software.

why meaning is differernt in c ..? isn't placmenet of "all" awkward in this option?


Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be superficial such as when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.
(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks
(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks
(C) superficial if the three major networks all
(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks
(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each

[RonPurewal]

why meaning is differernt in c ..? isn't placmenet of "all" awkward in this option?

"all" is fine; you can say "they all do something".

the meaning is different because the word "if" ALWAYS implies an "if-then" relationship.

so, this sentence is saying that, if the 3 major networks all broadcast the same statement, then TV can be superficial. that's not the correct meaning.
the correct meaning is to declare in general that TV can be superficial, and then to give the specific example (not a limiting hypothetical) about candidates' statements.