gmat-31-15

my answer is A,rather than 是连词，前后平行的话用doing

howardwang and ESeraph,

can you explain why you choose e?

i thought e is not parallel...

by drawing their body heat directly from the Sun instead of body heat generated by burning calories

instead of 常用来连接两个名词。其应用范围比rather than窄。

全部出自OG

40.   In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.

(A) instead of

(B) as opposed to

(C) in contrast with

(D) rather than at（D）

(E) as against being at

Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series.

55.   A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.

(A) had elected early retirement rather than face

(B) had elected early retirement instead of facing

(C) have elected retiring early instead of facing

(D) have elected to retire early rather than facing（E）

(E) have elected to retire early rather than face

Also, alternatives presented in the expressions x rather than y and x Instead of y should be parallel in form, but A and B mismatch the noun retirement with the verb forms face and facing.

116. Those who come to church with a predisposition to religious belief will be happy in an auditorium or even a storefront, and there is no doubt that religion is sometimes better served by adapted spaces of this kind instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it.

(A) adapted spaces of this kind instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it

(B) adapted spaces like these rather than some of the buildings actually designed for them

(C) these adapted spaces instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it

(D) such adapted spaces rather than by some of the buildings actually designed for them（E）

(E) such adapted spaces than by some of the buildings actually designed for it

Choices A and B complete the construction beginning better served by x... unidiomatically, with instead of by y and rather than y.

特别注意本题，OG并没有说instead of 与rather than 前面  两个by结构  用错！而显然两个by结构是平行的

此题与楼主的题有相似的地方么，大家自己看看吧

我选D

Howard Wang points out the two elements used to compare and connencted by "instead of". thats the acceptable way.

In A & D, "it" is not specific.