1000sc #279

by **gter** Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:05 am

279. Even as they never forgave the Crusaders who overran their homeland, the Syrians have never absolved the French for taking territory from them.
(A) Even as they never forgave
(B) While they never forgave
(C) Just like they never forgave
(D) Similarly to not forgiving
(E) In spite of their never forgiving

Can someone please explain why the answer is a and not d?
thanks

by **dbernst** Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:06 pm

Aside from its awkwardness and unidiomatic construction (similarly to), choice D lacks proper parallelism by comparing the progressive tense "forgiving" to the present perfect tense "have absolved."

-dan

by **sandy151278** Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:22 am

and why not C?

by **StaceyKoprince** Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:45 pm

First "Just like" is redundant - you don't need the word "just."

Second, clauses are being compared (they never forgave X and they have never absolved Y) which means we have to use "as" to make the comparison. "Like" is used when only nouns are being compared, not entire clauses.