alex.gellatly wrote:As the honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing the bee to sustain a fatal injury.

A.
B. As the heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes
C. The honeybee's stinger, heavily barbed and staying where it is inserted, results in the fact that the act of stinging causes
D. The heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, and results in the act of stinging causing
E. The honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed and stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes

Thanks

IMO - C : results in the fact that the act of stinging causes is clearly providing the meaning that the sentence is trying to convey.
In all other options, it is either awkward or changes the meaning.

alex.gellatly wrote:As the honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing the bee to sustain a fatal injury.

A.
B. As the heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes
C. The honeybee's stinger, heavily barbed and staying where it is inserted, results in the fact that the act of stinging causes
D. The heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, and results in the act of stinging causing
E. The honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed and stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes

Thanks

In A, this lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate A.

B is not a complete sentence. Where are the subject and the verb? Eliminate B.

C and D each state that the stinger...results in. The STINGER itself cannot result in something; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate C and D.

The correct answer is E.

In the OA, the with modifier serves as an adverb modifying the entire preceding clause -- particularly the ACTION of the preceding clause.
HOW does stinger the STAY where it is INSERTED?
It stays WITH THE RESULT THAT THE ACT OF STINGING CAUSES THE BEE TO SUSTAIN A FATAL INJURY.