Hardest PSAT Writing question I've ever seen...help?

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1

<p>The question:</p>

<p>"According to no LESSER OF AN AUTHORITY THAN Parkman, the most momentous event in the history of colonial North American was the expulsion of the French."</p>

<p>a) lesser of an authority than
b) lesser an authority such as
c) less an authority as
d) less of an authority than was
e) less an authority than</p>

<p>I understand why b, c, and d are not correct, but why is E correct? Why is A not correct?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Correlative conjunction:
No less __________ than Parkman
No lesser is awkward (and redundant?).
Nothing goes before Parkman, therefore nothing can go before an authority.</p>