D ?

A, B and E do not make the correct comparison.

C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.

gmat_perfect wrote:Like the thorny ballooning of a frightened pufferfish or the sudden appearance of angry sapphire hoops for which the blue-ringed octopus is named, so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril.

(A) so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(B) so it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning
(C) the California newt's displaying its red underbelly is a clear warning for predators, so they ignore it at their peril
(D) the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(E) it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning

No reason to put 'So' A & B- out

I will go for D

@niksworth :

C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.

I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .

GMATMadeEasy wrote:@niksworth :

C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.

I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .

i agree with the doubt on gerund possessive

GMATMadeEasy wrote:@niksworth :

C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.

I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .

Huh! This was sometime back. And I made a total mess of it. Must have been in some hurry I guess. Thanks for pointing this out.

First let me correct myself.

2. Is an outright oversight. There is no comma splice.

1. displaying is not a gerund here but a participle.

Why?
A - California newt's display of its red underbelly - display as a noun
B - California newt's displaying of its red underbelly - displaying as a gerund
C - California newt's displaying its red underbelly - displaying as a participle

Now the reason why C is incorrect.

A possessive noun cannot be followed by a participle (because a participle acts as an adjective). If we want a participle here, we have to remove the apostrophe s - California newt displaying its red underbelly would have been correct in isolation. (Though it would have created comparison problems with the rest of the sentence)

I vote A even though this is a very confusing sentence.

@niksworth : thanks. agreed.

@Arcane66: OA is D. If you are not convinced, let me know your specific question, will try to explain.