很怪的句子结构

Personal trainers and fitness coaches are to the narcissistic 1980’s just like a private fencing master and dancing teacher was to an earlier time.
            

(A) just like a private fencing master and dancing teacher was

(B) as have been a private fencing master and dancing teacher

(C) what private fencing masters and dancing teachers were

(D) what private fencing masters and dancing teachers are（C）

(E) just the same as private fencing masters and dancing teachers had been

答案是C，求解 句子结构

a good question!  i dont' know it either and i want some NN to explain it.

However, i do feel this sentence is sort of comparison.

To the narcisistic 1980's, personal trainers and fitness coaches are what private fencing masters and dancing teachers were to an earlier time.

据说

A is to B  what C is to D 是一个特殊结构。

另外 C的全复数对仗更整洁吧。