SC - Idiom and Meaning

IMO B

IMO B

First , we need possible not possibly since it modify the noun modern descendnats . Eliminate D,E.
Second, We use the phrase "years older than" not "years as old as". Eliminate A,C.

karthikpandian19 wrote:About two dozen fossils recovered from Liaoning, China reveal that the Microraptor gui, a dinosaur that had four wings, is nearly 60 million years as old as any of its possible modern descendants.


(A) as old as any of its possible

(B) older than any of its possible

(C) as old as its possible

(D) older than any of its possibly

(E) as old as their possibly

IMO: D

A,C and E can be eliminated because of as old as
Now we have to choose between possible and possibly.
As far as my knowledge goes, the correct usage is <adjective> <noun> and <adverb> <adjective> <noun>.
This sentence falls into the latter category as noun 'descendants' are modified by adjective 'modern' so it has to be adverb 'possibly'.

OA is B

Ashujain: The "possible" in B correctly modifies the noun descendants, whereas the "possibly" in E modifies "modern"

Ashujain wrote:

karthikpandian19 wrote:About two dozen fossils recovered from Liaoning, China reveal that the Microraptor gui, a dinosaur that had four wings, is nearly 60 million years as old as any of its possible modern descendants.


(A) as old as any of its possible

(B) older than any of its possible

(C) as old as its possible

(D) older than any of its possibly

(E) as old as their possibly

IMO: D

A,C and E can be eliminated because of as old as
Now we have to choose between possible and possibly.
As far as my knowledge goes, the correct usage is <adjective> <noun> and <adverb> <adjective> <noun>.
This sentence falls into the latter category as noun 'descendants' are modified by adjective 'modern' so it has to be adverb 'possibly'.

Ashujain wrote:

karthikpandian19 wrote:About two dozen fossils recovered from Liaoning, China reveal that the Microraptor gui, a dinosaur that had four wings, is nearly 60 million years as old as any of its possible modern descendants.


(A) as old as any of its possible

(B) older than any of its possible

(C) as old as its possible

(D) older than any of its possibly

(E) as old as their possibly

IMO: D

A,C and E can be eliminated because of as old as
Now we have to choose between possible and possibly.
As far as my knowledge goes, the correct usage is <adjective> <noun> and <adverb> <adjective> <noun>.
This sentence falls into the latter category as noun 'descendants' are modified by adjective 'modern' so it has to be adverb 'possibly'.

POSSIBLY modern desecendants:
Here, possibly serves as an ADVERB modifying the adjective modern.
The implication of this construction is that WHETHER the Microraptor's descendants are MODERN is unclear.
Are the Microraptor's descendants MODERN?
They are POSSIBLY modern.
Not the intended meaning here.

POSSIBLE modern descendants:
Here, possible serves as an ADJECTIVE modifying MODERN DESCENDANTS.
The implication of this structure is that certain present-day creatures might be MODERN DESCENDANTS of the Microraptor.
Are certain creatures the Microraptor's MODERN DESCENDANTS?
They are its POSSIBLE modern descendants.
This is the intended meaning here.