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Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to return customers buoyed the economy this January.
  • a)
    Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to returncustomers buoyed
  • b)
    Like in 2004, first-time buyers bought cars as often, if not more often than, return customersand that buoyed
  • c)
    As in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often as, if not more often than, to returncustomers and it buoyed
  • d)
    As in 2004, first-time buyers bought cars as often as, if not more often than, return customers,buoying
  • e)
    As in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to return customersbuoyed
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more oft...
The original makes a comparison between car sales in 2004 and this January. However, the comparison is of prepositional phrases, which must be compared using "as," not "like," which is used to compare nouns. ("Like"
would be correctly used to compare one year to another, for example, "Like 2004, 2005 was a good year.")

Also, this sentence has an idiomatic error. The idiom “as often as” must be written out and cannot be contracted to “as often.” Finally, the phrasing "car sales to first-time buyers as often as to return customers" is awkward and should be recast.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice incorrectly uses the comparison term "Like." Also, the idiom “as often” is incorrect; it should be “as often as.”
(C) This sentence uses the correct idiom, "as often as." However, the pronoun “it” does not have an antecedent, as “sales” (as well as "buyers") is plural. Finally, "and it" weakens the syntax and meaning of the first part of the sentence.
(D) CORRECT. This choice clearly compares sales in the two years. The idiom “as often as” is correctly written and is placed in a comparison of actions (i.e., "first-time buyers bought cars") rather than in a comparison of prepositional phrases, which is more awkward.
(E) The idiom “as often” is incorrect; it should be “as often as.”
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Most Upvoted Answer
Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more oft...
Understanding the Correct Answer: Option D
The sentence in question compares car sales to first-time buyers in January with similar sales in 2004. Let’s break down why option D is the correct choice.
Clarity of Comparison
- Option D states: "As in 2004, first-time buyers bought cars as often as, if not more often than, return customers, buoying."
- This structure clearly presents the comparison between first-time buyers and return customers.
- It uses "as often as" to effectively convey the frequency of purchases by both groups.
Grammatical Structure
- The phrase "buoying" at the end functions as a participial phrase that indicates the effect of the action (buying cars) on the economy.
- This construction maintains a smooth flow, making it clear that the purchasing behavior has a positive impact on the economy.
Issues with Other Options
- Option A: Lacks a clear subject-verb relationship and has awkward phrasing.
- Option B: Introduces unnecessary complexity with "and that buoyed," making the sentence less direct.
- Option C: The structure is convoluted and includes "and it buoyed," which disrupts flow.
- Option E: Similar to A, it lacks clarity and does not establish a clear subject for the verb “buoyed.”
Conclusion
Option D is the best choice because it maintains clarity, has a correct grammatical structure, and effectively conveys the intended meaning without unnecessary complexity. This makes it the most coherent and impactful option.
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Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to return customers buoyed the economy this January.a)Like in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to returncustomers buoyedb)Like in 2004, first-time buyers bought cars as often, if not more often than, return customersand that buoyedc)As in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often as, if not more often than, to returncustomers and it buoyedd)As in 2004, first-time buyers bought cars as often as, if not more often than, return customers,buoyinge)As in 2004, car sales to first-time buyers as often, if not more often than, to return customersbuoyedCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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