Hi Blue_Skies,

'Because' and 'in that' both are fine in this context.
This question can be better attacked by analyzing the latter part of the underlined sentence.

A - is ambiguous. What is not normally found?

Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

Is it the teratoma or the tissues or the tooth and bone. Hence eliminate

B - Never intoduce an example with like. Hence, eliminate

C - Eliminate for the same reason.

D - 'is' is ambiguoius there. The sentence would read 'in that their composition is ....' It is awkward. Hence eliminate

E - The best option.

Hence, answer E.


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Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

(A) because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone
(B) because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are
(C) because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues
(D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is
(E) in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues

In B and C, like should not be used to introduce examples (in this case, tooth and bone). Like is used to compare nouns. Such as is used to introduce examples. Eliminate B and C.

In A, not normally found in the organ seems to be modifying tooth and bone. The intended meaning is that the TISSUES are not normally found in the organ; tooth and bone are merely EXAMPLES of these tissues. Eliminate A.

In D, tissues is in apposition to composition. Nouns in apposition must refer to the EXACT SAME THING, but tissues is not the same thing as composition. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

The purpose of in that is to introduce the particular WAY in which something is true.
In the SC above, teratomas are unusual IN ONE PARTICULAR WAY: IN THAT they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone.

The distinction between because and in that is another reason to eliminate answer choices here.
The relationship expressed by the SC above is not causal.
The composition of teratomas is not CAUSING them to be unusual; the tooth and bone that compose teratomas are simply the WAY in which these forms of cancer are unusual.
Hence, in A, B and C, because does not convey the intended meaning.
Eliminate A, B and C.

Thanks, Mitch for correcting me

Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

What does the RED color portion do in this sentence. If it is a modifier it must be modifying TOOTH AND BONE, which would be incorrect.

I am confused with the usage of like-
Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

(A) because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone
(B) because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are
(C) because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues
(D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is
(E) in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues

Here if B is written as- because they are composed of tissues like that of tooth and bone will it be incorrect?
Kindly focus on the usage of like