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Difficulty: MediumIllogical and Incomplete Comparisons

The molecular structure of synthetic spider silk, which scientists have replicated in laboratory settings, is remarkably similar to wild spiders.

Which choice best corrects the underlined portion to create a logical and grammatically correct comparison?

  1. A
    wild spiders
  2. that of wild spidersAnswer
  3. C
    those of wild spiders
  4. D
    wild spiders; which is

Answer

The correct answer is the option that replaces the underlined text with 'that of wild spiders' to match the singular noun 'molecular structure' and complete the comparison logically.
The correct response must compare the singular noun 'molecular structure' of synthetic spider silk to the molecular structure of wild spiders. The singular pronoun 'that' logically represents 'molecular structure,' making the comparison grammatically parallel and clear.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two elements being compared in the sentence.
The sentence compares 'The molecular structure of synthetic spider silk' with 'wild spiders'.
To determine if a comparison is logical, you must identify what is being compared to what.
2
Evaluate the logic and grammatical parallel of the comparison.
Comparing a 'structure' (thing) to 'spiders' (organisms) is illogical. The comparison should compare the structure of synthetic silk to the structure of wild spider silk.
A logical comparison must compare comparable things (noun-to-noun or attribute-to-attribute).
3
Select the correct singular pronoun to replace the compared attribute and maintain grammatical agreement.
Since 'molecular structure' is singular, use the pronoun 'that' (resulting in 'that of wild spiders') rather than the plural 'those'.
Pronoun reference must match the singular number of the noun it replaces.

Key Concept

Illogical and Incomplete Comparisons
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Illogical and Incomplete Comparisons

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