Sentence Correction

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

a) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors

b) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors

c) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

d) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in the nuclear reactors

e) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart

IMO C

We can use "as" to compare clauses.

Correct. Why is D wrong?

pkw209 wrote:Correct. Why is D wrong?

D is wordy and passive.

I don't understand the verb to be used here.... should it be merges or merging

My answer was E.

Someone please help me understand this.

D and E are wrong. We cannot have one more AND here. AND is used to introduce the list here with similar items such as the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs...This list is already complete with the last item preceeded by AND.

The participle merging is describing the process called Nuclear fusion present in the first clause.

sumanr84 wrote:D and E are wrong. We cannot have one more AND here. AND is used to introduce the list here with similar items such as the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs...This list is already complete with the last item preceeded by AND.

The participle merging is describing the process called Nuclear fusion present in the first clause.

Suman, I would have to kindly disagree, please consider the following example
Jim has a dog, a cat and a rat and is a smart guy.
This may sound wierd, but in my opinion this is correct

Similarly the AND is trying to add some additional information about the Fusion and not about the list. The list was completed by the previous AND.

Correct me if I am wrong.

However, I am not sure whether E is correct.
HTH. Thanks

susantaiitk wrote:I don't understand the verb to be used here.... should it be merges or merging

My answer was E.

Someone please help me understand this.

the first clause in the sentence is saying what does fusion do? It powers a,b, and c.

the second clause modifies this action by stating that how does it happen? by merging nuclei.

If you use merges, as in option D and E, it would become || to powers, creating unintended "second quality" of fusion : powers and merges

The author doesn't want it. rather, the second clause should tell more about how the fusion happens (merging the nuclei.... )

thanks Harsha

Looks like its important to apply knowledge of the context here.

pkw209 wrote:Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

a) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors

b) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors

c) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

d) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in the nuclear reactors

e) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart

IMO D

Guys,

Can someone please explain me, why is B wrong and can not be considered at all??

Is it coz of LIKE.

I would appreciate if you could throw some more light on LIKE and AS, with examples. I have tried earlier but still haven't got it completely.

Thanks!!

Close between C and D
C is the winner

Problem with D
use of and,...
done in the nuclear reactors .... i guess it should be done by reactors (done by x not done in x...i am not a science student)

C ...correct comparision

pavitkumar wrote:Guys,

Can someone please explain me, why is B wrong and can not be considered at all??

Is it coz of LIKE.

I would appreciate if you could throw some more light on LIKE and AS, with examples. I have tried earlier but still haven't got it completely.

Thanks!!

B seems to be saying that nuclear reactors is an example of splitting them apart.

merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors

IMO E

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors.

in options A, B and C the word by after the comma would have helped to complete the sentence. Moreover they end in an awkward way

a) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reactors

b) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reactors

c) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

d) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in the nuclear reactors
Nuclear fusion does something that nuclear reactors dont do. as done in nuclear reactors is not correct

e) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart
correct choice. Nuclear fusion does something unlike atomic reactors.