Which line is parallel with this line: "I am not a star because all my songs are hits; all my songs are hits because I am a star?"

• A. I am the final word in the classroom not because my judgement is always correct, but my judgement in the classroom is always correct because I am the instructor
• B. The student who questions everything rarely learns anything
• C. The road to wisdom is paved with questions and silence
• D. The teacher's authority rests on the students' respect and trust

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing parallel structure, especially a mirrored “not because …, but … because …” construction. The line that best fits repeats a similar grammatical pattern in two balanced parts: it makes a claim, then negates a reason with “not because,” and follows with a second clause that uses the same pattern but flips the order to give the reason. It keeps the same subjects and phrases in parallel positions, creating a crisp, symmetrical rhythm that mirrors the original line’s cadence.

That option uses exactly this mirrored setup: a claim about being the final word, a negated reason, and then a second clause that restates the idea with the reason given in a parallel form. The other lines don’t mirror their structure in the same way: they either present a single statement or rely on a metaphor or straightforward claim without the paired, reversed grammar that defines parallel phrasing.