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Difficulty: MediumIllogical and Incomplete Comparisons

The preservation techniques of early Egyptian mummification, which relied heavily on natron salt, were far more complex than ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.

Which of the following options, if substituted for the underlined portion of the sentence, would make the comparison logical and grammatically correct?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. those of ancient Mesoamerican civilizationsAnswer
  3. C
    ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, they relied instead on dry desert climates
  4. D
    those of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, who preferred desiccating the body and to wrap it in textiles

Answer

The correct answer is the option that replaces the underlined portion with 'those of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations' to ensure a logical comparison.
The correct option correctly uses the plural pronoun 'those' to refer to 'preservation techniques.' This establishes a logical, noun-to-noun comparison between the mummification techniques of early Egypt and the mummification techniques of Mesoamerica.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two elements being compared in the sentence.
The sentence attempts to compare 'The preservation techniques of early Egyptian mummification' with 'ancient Mesoamerican civilizations'.
To be logical, the comparison must compare the techniques of one culture to the techniques of another, not the techniques to the civilizations themselves.
2
Select a replacement that provides a grammatically correct and parallel comparison.
Because 'preservation techniques' is a plural noun, the pronoun 'those' must be used to refer back to it. Checking the options with 'those', the correct choice must also maintain parallel structure throughout the rest of the sentence.
Using 'those of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations' maintains a logical noun-to-noun comparison without introducing any new grammatical errors.

Key Concept

Illogical and Incomplete Comparisons
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Topics

Illogical and Incomplete Comparisons

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