usage of "that" in a sentence

What is the difference between that and which?

That - That is used with restrictive phrases. Restrictive phrases are phrases that are essential to the sentence.

Which - Which is used with nonrestrictive phrases. Nonrestrictive phrases are phrases that states non essential information. A phase is nonrestrictive phase if the phase can be from the sentence.

Examples:

* The shirt that you lent me is in my bag.
* The shirt, which is red, is in my bag.

If the above were true then in our question we r not exactly trying 2 restrict the countries. i guess they are trying 2 show a wider range of countries. so i guess the option A is the answer? not 2 sure though.

Please correct me if i am wrong.

Regards,
Vignesh

Is oa d?

Is OA C ?

Answer is A. I hope any of the experts can explain the difference between A and D since I'm still not clear with the usage of "that". Appreciate anyone's response. I know it's a restrictive clause and which is non restrictive clause etc. But I'm still nto able to figure out the when to avoid it "vs" when to use it.

My logic for choosing A over D,

D => countries that are as varied as China => would mean, those countries comparable to China, Netherlands or Hungary.

A=> implies a range of countries.

The meaning of the sentence is different in the two...hope it makes sense..

difference between 'that' and 'which' ... that gives essential information whereas which gives additional information.


Consider these two sentences -

1. My flat is in the third apartment, which is red, in the lane.
2. My flat is in the third apartment, that is red, in the lane

The difference between these two is -
In statement 1 it means my flat is third in apartment while in statement 2 it means my flat is in the third red apartment in the lane, which can actually be 4-5-6th apartment of the lane.


Use that as a modifier only when you feel that this information is must to identify the clause

The difference between A and D is brevity.

In this sentence as varied as = that are as varied as. So choose the more concise answer.

Overusing the word that is a frequent mistake people make in writing. In general this is a really great question to test a person's writing ability.

Can anyone explain what is wrong with option B?