Question

Simplify the underlined part of the given sentence (if necessary):
Bengal-born writer, philosopher, and educator Rabindranath Tagore had the greatest admiration for Mohandas K. Gandhi the person and also as a politician, but Tagore had been skeptical of Gandhi's form of nationalism and his conservative opinions about India's cultural traditions.

• A. for Mohandas K. Gandhi the person and also as a politician, but Tagore had been
• B. for Mohandas K. Gandhi as a person and as a politician, but Tagore was also
• C. for Mohandas K. Gandhi not only as a person and asa politician, but Tagore was also
• D. of Mohandas K. Gandhi as a person and as also a politician, but Tagore was
• E. of Mohandas K. Gandhi not only as a person and as a politician, but Tagore had also been

Answer 1

The correct option is B for Mohandas K. Gandhi as a person and as a politician, but Tagore was also

Here, the correct idiom is 'admiration for' and not 'admiration of'. Therefore, options D and E do not fit the context. Since, the sentence is one of contrast - between Tagore's admiration for Gandhi and his skepticism regarding Gandhi's form of nationalism and opinions, the 'not only ... but also' structure is incorrect as it is used for affirming something and not contrasting. Thus, option C too doesn't fit the context. Now, the sentence requires a parallel structure- the use of '...and also...' in A does not fit a parallel structure whereas '...as...as...' in B does support a parallel structure. Therefore B is the correct answer.