Use of "with" to show contrast?

[GmatKrazy]

The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian—vegetables，fresh cheese，oatmeal，and meal cakes，and meat rarely．
(A) and meat rarely
(B) and meat was rare
(C) with meat as rare
(D) meat a rarity
(E) with meat as a rarity

My question: Is it that we use "with" to present a contrast in a list...
eg.Shaun is intelligent with traits of arrogance..
or shaun is intelligent,dilligent and energetic with traits of arrogance...to show a contrast in properties?

[santroz]

GmatKrazy,

WITH here is used as a function word. As per dictionary.com one of the usages of with is: (used as a function word to specify an additional circumstance or condition)...So in this sentence with doesn't show contrast but it just shows an additional condition. In other words, WITH here is used to link to the main clause showing an additional condition..This becomes apparent when we remove the list containing vegetarian items:
The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian with meat as a rarity..
In your other examples also, WITH is used a function word to provide additional information...

HTH

[sham12345]

Why ? B cant be the answer ?

[Mahendra700]

IMO E is the answer

[arindambanerji]

has to be E

cant be B

we dont say that - I am a vegetarian and eat meat some times..."and" is giving equal weightage to both being vegetarian and eating meat. This construction is incorrect with the usage of the adverb "largely". Also "meat was rare" doesnt make the sentence complete. It means that meat was rarely found.

[GmatKrazy]

Hi,
So if one of the options were "and meat was a rarity" would that be correct.

[santroz]

Originally Posted by GmatKrazy

Hi,
So if one of the options were "and meat was a rarity" would that be correct.

Nope..I dont think that the sentence would be correct..AND works as a coordinating conjunction..so the items conjugated with AND should be able to stand alone as independent clauses...for example..when I say: I ate burger and pizza today..I can write two independent clauses without any significant changes:
1) I ate burger today
2) I ate pizza today

For the case at hand, the original sentence is:

The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian (with meat as rarity)...

Let's try to add your AND here:

The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian and meat was a rarity....So effectively it means:

1) The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian.
2) The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was meat was a rarity.

2) doesnt make sense to me..A better way to rephrase 2) is :

The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was meat as rarity..

So the new sentence would be:

The diet of the ordinary Greek in classical times was largely vegetarian and meat as rarity..

Experts can comment..