Sentence Correction

The investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization of there being little that is a significant difference in the underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures.

A of there being little that is a significant difference
B of there being little that is significant different
C of little that is significantly different
D that there is little that is significantly different
E that there is little of significant differences

The answer is D
Does "that is significantly different" modify "little"?

Correct. LITTLE here is a singular indefinite pronoun and acts as the subject of the previous verb IS (THERE IS LITTLE) and as the antecedent of THAT: the verb in the clause introduced by THAT must therefore be singular: once more, IS. Thus, that is significantly different modifies LITTLE.

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Hi Fabio ,

I understood that that is significantly different this part modifies the little, but what that there is is refer to?

Also please advise what is wrong with option C?

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

SJ

1. The clause THAT THERE IS refers to GENERALIZATION. In other words, ask the question: WHICH GENERALIZATION? The answer is THE GENERALIZATION THAT THERE IS LITTLE ...

2. Option C is incorrect first because the phrase GENERALIZATION OF is unidiomatic, and second because the continuation of the phrase makes no sense: GENERALIZATION OF LITTLE THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT creates, instead of an idea, a mental fog. How exactly does one support THE GENERALIZATION OF LITTLE ...? Compare that with option D, which is perfectly clear, and you will see that in an exam that emphasizes clarity of meaning and effective expression, option C would have no possibility.

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