The use of phrases like "as so–and–so said" or "as the saying goes" suggests that the quote that follows has just bee...

Naz on July 23, 2014

The question stem asks us to find the answer choice that INAPPROPRIATELY uses the phrase "as so-and-so said" or "as the saying goes."

The stimulus tells us that the phrases are appropriately used to suggest that the quote that follows has just been illustrated. It also tells us that the phrases are inappropriately used when "an apparent counterexample has just been given."

Answer choice (E) states: "Raoul spent a year planning and preparing for a fantastic ski trip. He enjoyed his ski trip greatly until he broke his leg and had to spend two weeks in the hospital. As the saying goes, 'All's well that ends well.'"

Raoul's trip did NOT end well because he broke his leg and had to, subsequently, spend two weeks in the hospital. Therefore, the saying, "all's well that ends well," was not previously illustrated. In fact, Raoul breaking his leg and having to spend time in the hospital are apparent counterexamples to that phrase.

So, answer choice (E) correctly depicts the inappropriate usage of the phrase "as the saying goes."

Answer choice (B) states: "Harold's friends were surprised when he revealed that he had left his wallet at home and asked that someone lend him money. But he had done the same thing many times before. As Halliard said, 'The force of selfishness is as inevitable and as calculable as the force of gravitation.'"

We are told that Harold's friends were surprised when he revealed that he had left his money at home and asked for someone to lend him money. However, he had done this exact thing on many other occasions. We are then given the phrase "As Hallaird said, 'The force of selfishness is as inevitable and as calculable as the force of gravitation.'"

The information preceding the quote illustrates the sentiment of the quote exactly. Therefore, the phrase was used appropriately. Since we are looking for the answer choice that INAPPROPRIATELY uses the phrases, this is not the correct answer.

Hope that clears things up! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

esther on July 30, 2018

are harolds friends selfish because they are surprised he's asking for money? or is harold the selfish one

Shiyi-Zhang on February 2, 2019

Why is C incorrect?

Ravi on February 9, 2019

@esther and @Shiyi-Zhang,

Happy to help.

@esther,

(B) says, "Harold's friends were surprised when he revealed that he
had left his wallet at home and asked that someone lend him money. But
he had done the same thing many times before. As Halliard said, 'The
force of selfishness is as inevitable and as calculable as the force
of gravitation.'"

You asked if Harold or his friends are selfish. Harold is the one
exhibiting selfish behavior according to the information we're given.
We know this because we're told about what he does and that he's done
the same thing many times before. Then, we're told what Halliard said,
and what Halliard says suggests that the author of this answer choice
views Harold's behavior as selfish.

@Shiyi-Zhang,

(C) says, "The best model of vacuum cleaner was the most expensive on
the market, but it would have made Roger unhappy to purchase it. For
although he never wanted anything but the best, he was also quite
frugal, and would never have forgiven himself for spending the money.
As the saying goes, 'A penny saved is a penny earned.'"

From this, we know that Roger is frugal and likes to save his money.
Even though Roger's frugality entails that he won't buy the best
vacuum cleaner, in his heart he knows he'd prefer to save money. A
Penny saved is a penny earned is the saying that follows Roger's
actions. There's no contradiction here between Roger's actions and the
saying, so we can eliminate this answer choice since the prompt wants
us to choose the answer choice that contains an INAPPROPRIATE USAGE of
a phrase, according to the principle stated in the stimulus.

Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!