<p>[Contrasting with] [most other] fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings<br>
<strong><em>A</em></strong>*****B</p>
<p>[could count on] the support of the aristocracy [in any] overseas ventures.
<strong><em>C</em></strong>***************************D</p>
<p>The answer sheet says the answer is A, but it is not clear for me why. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>By the way, the book says it is a hard question.</p>
<p>How about trying a simple search on the "Portuguese kings"?</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but I don't understand you.</p>
<p>There is a "Search" drop-down window on the top tool bar ("My Control Panel", etc.)
Open it, type your kings, and they all will pop up.
Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but it is a grammar question from the sat writing part, and not an historical question. Thanks.</p>
<p>Did you try CC tool bar?</p>
<p>Yes, in fact you are right. Thanks for the help, now I see the thread. Cheers.</p>
<p>it wud be "contrasting to"</p>
<p>I thought it would be in contrast with.. oh well</p>
<p>Yea, i also believe it should be "in contrast with."</p>
<p>"In contrast with" seems fine for me too. "Contrasting from" is also improper ? This is a hard question, at least for me, because in my language "contrasting with" would be possible and right. Well, but idioms exist in every language haha :)</p>
<p>The question just before this one was about melanie johnson, and I've got that wrong, because though "preoccupation in" sounded strange to me, that "that" sounded even stranger haha :) I guess the right would be "preoccupation with".Thanks</p>
<p>The catch here is that "to contrast with" is a ligitimate idiom.
"Her smile contrasted with the tears in her eys".</p>
<p>Compare these two:
"Differing from most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures."
and
"Being different from most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures."
Which one is better?</p>
<p>Compare these two:
"Differing from most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings
could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures."
and
"Being different from most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures."
Which one is better?</p>
<p>I think "differing from" is better than "being different". It seems that "being different" is related in a very narrow, particular way to the Portuguese kings. I mean, though they could count on the support of the aristocracy, this doesn't make them different, right ? I think that maybe "different" is used here in a very ample way.</p>
<p>"Differing from" seems to show more, and a better contrast....or no ? </p>
<p>What do you think ?</p>
<p>Actually, I am contrasting with you.
Well, seriously, I think "being different" is correct.</p>
<p>Maybe you are right haha it was just a guess, and I'm terrible with the idioms......Well, I think these Portuguese kings are generating much debate among students hahaha</p>
<p>Right, if you search for "portuguese kings" on this forum, you get five other threads with the same question.
And it's started two years ago!
<a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?69/29861%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?69/29861</a></p>
<p>It can very well be In contras to ......... And Both In contrast to and in contrast with are correct here .my final choice will be "In contrast to"</p>
<p>It should be "In constrast with/to." </p>
<p>"Constrasting with" would mean that the kings were contrasting, like they were preforming that action. So, in contrast to is a more logical idiom.</p>
<p>il bandito's explanation has really opened my mind to understand the question. I "see" this too now, that the way it is written it is as if the kings were contrasting, perfoming the action. Thanks.</p>
<p>It also takes care of
[quote]
"Differing from most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures."
[/quote]
Same difference.</p>
<p>But - why is this correct:
"A bright painting contrasting with pastel walls attracted my attention as soon as I entered the room"?
Or is it not?
Kinda ambigouos... ;)</p>
<p>BTW, Testmasters' explanation of the "Portuguese kings" is totally off the mark.</p>