prep sc question

[lindaliu9273]

There is nowhere in early American literature where the influence of Jane Austen is so apparent as the novels of James Fenimore Cooper.
A. There is nowhere in early American literature where the influence of Jane Austen is so apparent as
B. In early American literature, nowhere is Jane Austin's influence so apparent than in
C. It is nowhere more apparent in early American literature that Jane Austen was an influence as in
D. Nowhere in early American literature is the influence of Jane Austen more apparent than in
E. Nowhere in early American literature is it more apparent that Jane Austen had an influence than

OA:D

For A:there should be "in" after "so apparent as". But is "so apparent as" itself correct?
Is C wrong because it changes that meaning of the original sentence?
For E, I think "it" grammarly refers to "early American literature ". And it seems to compare "early American literature" with "Jane Austin", which is wrong. Is it correct?

Thank you so much for answering!!!

[thanghnvn]

whenever we see comparision, check the second element of comparison to see weather the second element is clear or to find the two possibilities for the second element.

"in literature" need "in something" for clear showing of second element. A and E is out.

c is terrible. "more...as" is wrong. "nowhere" should be close to in literature.

[RonPurewal]

For A:there should be "in" after "so apparent as". But is "so apparent as" itself correct?

Not for a comparison. For a comparison, you'd want "as apparent as...".

This kind of thing can be used to express the idea that something happens or is true to an extreme extent. E.g., This fact is so apparent as to be obvious.

[RonPurewal]

Is C wrong because it changes that meaning of the original sentence?

I suppose so. C seems to suggest that Jane Austen was (= personally) an influence.

The most glaring error in choice C is "more ... as ...", which is unidiomatic. (More must be paired with than).

[RonPurewal]

For E, I think "it" grammarly refers to "early American literature ". And it seems to compare "early American literature" with "Jane Austin", which is wrong. Is it correct?

Thank you so much for answering!!!

The "it" is fine. It's like this:
post49622.html#p49622

The other half of the comparison in E is Nowhere in early American literature.
For the comparison to make sense, the other half should be another place in literature"”"”i.e., "in the novels of JFC."
Without the "in", the comparison doesn't make sense.

If you don't make this realization in real time, you can also realize that this choice is objectively more wordy than choice D. (Wordiness will never be the only problem with an answer choice, because it's not actually an error. However, if you see a choice that's clearly MORE wordy than another choice, you can eliminate the one that's less efficient.)

[lindaliu9273]

Thank you Ron. You're always very helpful.

[RonPurewal]

You're welcome!

[ZHUOC614]

hi Ron,

I remember that you said comparison is a kind of parallelism.

for E,

Nowhere in early American literature is it more apparent that Jane Austen had an influence than the novels of James Fenimore Cooper.

I think they can perfectly parallel to each other.

Am I wrong?

waiting for your help! thanks a lot!

[ZHUOC614]

further clarification for the previous post:

I actually had difficulty in picking the parts that are supposed to be parallel for comparison problems specifically, since I think parallels in the normal paralleled structures, i.e. with marker such as "AND", "BOTH...AND..." , are easier than those in comparison.
Is there some quick way to find the parts that need to be parallel in comparison? What are the markers?(Is things like “more...than...” markers?) Do they function like "AND" or "Both...And..."?

I am really confused and waiting sincerely for your help!

[RonPurewal]

• Compare the answer choices. DO NOT judge individual choices in comparison problems.

• Eliminate the choices that don't match as well as others.

Comparisons are a "beauty contest". Don't try to eliminate choices individually.

[ZHUOC614]

Thanks a ton!!

I believe that with the idea not to eliminate choices individually, I will find learning this sort of problem easier!

[RonPurewal]

You're welcome.

It's amazing how many people take this test as though it weren't a multiple-choice test. They give you tools; you should use them.

[aashray.thatai]

Can someone help me explain why E is incorrect on this one? I was confused between E and D.
Thanks in advance

[RonPurewal]

Can someone help me explain why E is incorrect on this one? I was confused between E and D.
Thanks in advance

in the correct answer, "in the novels of JFC" (= a place where something appears) is parallel to "nowhere in ..." (= another place, or, more accurately, a lack of such a place).

in choice (e), the second element in the parallel structure is the novels themselves. this isn't parallel to anything.

[Jane8]

I have a question about choice A.

Can "where" modify literature?

Thank you.