discovery

AnjaliOberoi wrote:Biologists working in Spain say that their discovery of teeming life in a highly acidic river may not only broaden the search for life, or for evidence of past life, no other planets but also show that a number of forms of microscopic life can adapt to conditions that scientists have long thought hostile to all but the hardiest bacteria.

A. show that a number of forms of microscopic life can adapt to conditions that scientists have long
thought hostile to all but the hardiest bacteria

B. may show that a number of forms of microscopic life is capable of adapting to conditions that scientists have long thought hostile to all bacteria but the hardiest ones
INCORRECT; "is" is singular... a number is plural

C. shows a number of forms of microscopic life to be capable to adapt to conditions that scientists have long thought had been hostile to all but the hardiest bacteria
INCORRECT; SVA Error

D. showing that a number of forms of microscopic life is capable of adapting to conditions that
scientists have long thought had been hostile to all but the hardiest bacteria
INCORRECT; broaden is verb but showing is adjective.. Not parallel

E. showing that a number of forms of microscopic life can adapt to conditions that scientists have long thought hostile to all bacteria but the hardiest
INCORRECT; broaden is verb but showing is adjective.. Not parallel