BTGmoderatorDC wrote:Like those of the african white and black rhinos, the Sumatran rhinos has two horns, but the front one is generally less than a foot long and the second is so smal that it often appears to be missing.
a. Like those of the african white and black rhinos,
b. similar to that of the african white and black rhinos
c. like that of the african white and black rhinos
d. as with the african white and black rhinos'
e. like the african white and black rhinos
The original sentence contains a number of typos. The word "african" should be capitalized. The phrase "the Sumatran rhinos" should be singular, not plural. And the word "small" is spelled with one 'l', rather than two.
However, overlooking these minor errors, the question can be answered as follows.
The sentence begins with the prepositional phrase "like those of the African white and black rhinos".
A prepositional phrase acts as a modifier, modifying the meaning of another word or phrase in the sentence.
A modifier should be located next to the thing it modifies, so the prepositional phrase should modify the noun that follows it.
The prepositional phrase begins with the word "like". "Like" is a comparison word, so look for comparison errors.
The sentence compares "the Sumatran rhino" to "those of the African white and black rhinos".
The Sumatran rhino might be compared to other species of rhinoceros, because different species of rhinoceros are similar enough to sustain a comparison.
However, "the Sumatran rhino" cannot be compared to "those of the African white and black rhinos".
Eliminate choice A, and then eliminate any choice that repeats the error.
Choices B and C compare "the Sumatran rhino" to "that of the African white and black rhinos", so eliminate choices B and C.
Choice D adds an apostrophe to the word "rhinos". The apostrophe signifies possession, so choice D also compares "the Sumatran rhino" to something that belongs to other rhinos, rather than to the other rhinos themselves. Eliminate choice D.
The correct answer is choice
E.
