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Difficulty: Very hardIllogical and Incomplete Comparisons

The defense mechanisms of the mimic octopus, which include shape-shifting and color-matching to deter predators, are far more sophisticated than a cuttlefish, which relies on simple camouflage.

Which choice most effectively and logically completes the comparison in the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. those of the cuttlefish, which relies on simple camouflageAnswer
  3. C
    those of the cuttlefish; which relies on simple camouflage
  4. D
    that of the cuttlefish, which relies on simple camouflage

Answer

The correct answer is the option that states 'those of the cuttlefish, which relies on simple camouflage', as it correctly compares the plural 'defense mechanisms' to the plural pronoun 'those' of the cuttlefish, and properly sets off the descriptive clause with a comma.
The correct option correctly resolves the comparison error by introducing the plural pronoun 'those of' to refer to 'defense mechanisms', ensuring that the mechanisms of the mimic octopus are logically compared to the mechanisms of the cuttlefish. It also correctly uses a comma to set off the nonessential clause 'which relies on simple camouflage'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the elements being compared in the sentence.
The sentence attempts to compare the 'defense mechanisms' of the mimic octopus to a cuttlefish.
To make a comparison logical, the two items compared must be of the same category (e.g., comparing features to features rather than features to an entire organism).
2
Determine if the original comparison is logical and identify the grammatical number of the target noun.
Comparing 'mechanisms' (plural) to 'a cuttlefish' (singular animal) is illogical. The target noun 'mechanisms' is plural.
Since 'mechanisms' is plural, any pronoun replacing it in the comparison must also be plural ('those').
3
Evaluate the choices for logical pronoun use and correct punctuation.
The option using 'those' and a comma correctly forms the plural comparison and joins the nonessential clause. The option using a semicolon incorrectly separates a dependent clause, and the option using 'that' uses an incorrect singular pronoun.
Standard English grammar requires nonessential relative clauses beginning with 'which' to be set off by a comma, not a semicolon.

Key Concept

Logical comparisons require that the items being compared are grammatically parallel and of the same category. For plural nouns, use the plural pronoun 'those of' rather than the singular 'that of' or the bare noun of a different class.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Illogical and Incomplete Comparisons

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