16. Factory outlet stores, operated by manufacturers, are usually located miles from downtown and regional shopping centers so as not directly to be competitive against department stores in the same trading area. (A) so as not directly to be competitive against (B) in order for them not to have direct competition with (C) so that they do not compete directly with (D) in order that they are not directly competitive against (E) for the purpose of not competing directly with 选c,我在c和e中徘徊. c有they,指代不清,stores or manufactures, e的competing 没有c的原形好, 怎么判断正确答案呢?
这是一个优选题,尽管C有指代问题,但不是错误的,是不优的,因为毕竟一般情况下,从句的主语THEY指代,通常指代句子主语,但是这要看其他的选项,然后优选。而E存在的问题要比C多: 1、for 和 purpose 在GMAT里被认为是意思重复,都有目的的意思,应该直接用 for not competing....,尽管有这样的用法。 2、for the purpose of 也同样有修饰的混淆,到底修饰哪个?就近?句子主语? 这完全是比出来的答案。