Please post the full question along with the options.

vk_vinayak wrote:Please post the full question along with the options.

Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes form a random pattern.

(A) Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes

(B) Whereas the tiny tubes for the conveying of nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in mammals in parallel lines, birds have tubes that

(C) Unlike mammals, where the tiny tubes for conveying nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, birds' tubes

(D) Unlike mammals, in whom the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, the tubes in birds

(E) Unlike the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells, which in mammals are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes

imskpwr wrote:

vk_vinayak wrote:Please post the full question along with the options.

Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes form a random pattern.

(A) Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes - I find this as the best choice.

(B) Whereas the tiny tubes for the conveying of nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in mammals in parallel lines, birds have tubes that - Doesn't really make sense and awkward

(C) Unlike mammals, where the tiny tubes for conveying nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, birds' tubes

(D) Unlike mammals, in whom the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, the tubes in birds

(E) Unlike the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells, which in mammals are arrayed in parallel lines, in birds the tubes

C,D and E have comparison errors. Hence, reject them

B is not parallel and makes an awkward sentence.

Hence answer is A

imskpwr wrote:Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey
nutrients to bone cells are arrayed in parallel lines, in
birds the tubes form a random pattern.

Can anyone tell me why in the subordinate we are using passive( tubes are arrayed by...), but in main clause we are using active construction(tubes form)?

Both Subordinate and Main Clause are showing concession. It's better to write both in active i.e., "array" and "form"

If you had indicated that the sentence you wrote was a correct sentence I wouldn't have asked for options. Sorry about that.

Coming to the question, main clause and subordinate clause can be in different voice. I think I have seen this in some other OG question as well, but can't think of it at the moment.

Whereas in mammals the tiny tubes that convey nutrients to bone cells array in parallel lines, in birds the tubes form a random pattern. would be correct ( I think so). But this option is not given to us.

We are not looking for best possible construction for a sentence. We need to choose an option that is the best of the five options given to us. As with the options, you can see that B,C,D,E contain grammatical errors (Illogical comparisons), we chose A.

Also, it is a myth that passive construction is incorrect. Sometime passive construction is needed

Eg: Canadian scientists have calculated that one human being should be struck every nine years by a meteorite, while each year sixteen buildings can be expected to sustain damage from such objects.

(C) a meteorite will strike one human being once in every nine years (active -- incorrect)
(D) every nine years a human being will be struck by a meteorite (passive -- correct)

Main clause and subordinate clause can be in different tense, in different voice