Solve this verbal question please.

[mksg1985]

2. Samuel Sewall viewed marriage, as other seventeenth-century colonists, like a property arrangement rather than an emotional bond based on romantic love.


(A) Samuel Sewall viewed marriage, as other seventeenth-century colonists, like a property arrangement rather than
(B) As did other seventeenth-century colonists, Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement rather than viewing it as
(C) Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement, like other seventeenth-century colonists, rather than viewing it as
(D) Marriage to Samuel Sewall, like other seventeenth-century colonists, was viewed as a property arrangement rather than
(E) Samuel Sewall, like other seventeenth-century colonists, viewed marriage as a property arrangement rather than

[smohit04]

Correct answer should be E.

Approach -

- I considered first split as 'like a property arrangement' vs 'as a property arrangement' , i think here it should be 'as a property arrangement', because he is actually viewing marriage as a property arrangement and not comparing with it. This eliminates the answer choices A and C.

- D is more of a passive voice, which could be better expressed in active voice. so will eliminate D

- in B, the usage of 'viewed marriage to be ..' does not seems to be correct, it should be 'viewed marriage as...' , so will eliminate B (also i think, if we say 'As did other scientists...' then it should be .. 'Samuel sewall also viewed....' but not sure of this...!)

[tim]

thanks, smohit..

[mksg1985]

Nice Explanation.
Thanks!!

[jnelson0612]

Indeed, very nice explanation.

[nonameee]

- D is more of a passive voice, which could be better expressed in active voice. so will eliminate D

Correct me if I'm wrong, but (D) is incorrect not because of a passive voice, but because it is illogical since by using 'like' in this way we are comparing 'marriage' and 'other seventeenth-century colonists'.

[ven2]

Is B the wrong answer becuase of this

(B) As did other seventeenth-century colonists, Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement rather than viewing it as

the first half is
viewed X to be Y
rather than
Viewing

The first verb is ed and the second is ING
Also Viewed X to be Y is wrong
can this be considered wrong becuase of that

Thanks

[nonameee]

Is B the wrong answer becuase of this

(B) As did other seventeenth-century colonists, Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement rather than viewing it as

the first half is
viewed X to be Y
rather than
Viewing

The first verb is ed and the second is ING
Also Viewed X to be Y is wrong
can this be considered wrong becuase of that

Thanks

I'm not sure that the idiom rule you mention it a reason here. The first reason (-ed vs. -ing) is the correct one.

[tim]

Actually, the real reason D is wrong is because it talks about "marriage to Samuel Sewall". There was obviously no widely-held public opinion on the nature of marriage to Samuel Sewall. As for the viewed/viewing question, it sounds like the two posters are both talking about the same thing, and yes this discrepancy is why B is wrong..