reptiles

[sairamGmat]

161. Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.
(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like

OA is B

Can any one explain why?

[kvcpk]

Like is never used to bring examples. It is only used to compare 2 nouns/noun phrases.
CDE out.

Based on... is an andverbial modifier - Others correct me If I am wrong.
It is modifying the noun- Scientists here in A.
Hence wrong.

pick B.

Hope this helps!!

[paes]

Like is never used to bring examples. It is only used to compare 2 nouns/noun phrases.
CDE out.

Based on... is an andverbial modifier - Others correct me If I am wrong.
It is modifying the noun- Scientists here in A.
Hence wrong.

pick B.

Hope this helps!!

Correct reasoning.

[kvcpk]

Sorry Buddy,

Just checked some notes at thislink:
https://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic55648.html

Based on is not an adverbial modifier. It is a normal -ed modifier which is a noun modifier. Hence it can e used to modify Scientist.
But, as stated in the link above, (check for ESL expert post) Using "based on" as introductory phrase is incorrect.

Also, I found that there is a shift in meaning between A and B.

A says Scientists were based on X [its not the scientists, but their estimations were based on X]
B correctly uses the prepositional phrase modifier as a verb modifier to modify the action of the following clause.

Hope this helps!!

[paes]

kvcpk@

You are right, I missed the word 'adverbial modifier' from your last post actually.

-ed modifiers are noun modifiers, generally modify to the closest noun.

But your explanation was correct.
In A : based on..... : modifying to scientists
B : correct

[reply2spg]

17 seconds to finish. Remember that 'based on' is a modifier for the noun, which comes after the comma.

Here, 'scientists' is the noun after comma, so ideally 'based on' must modify 'scientists'. However, this is illogical that 'scientists' can not 'based on'. Therefore, eliminate A, C and E.

You need 'such as' and not 'like', eliminate C and D

remaining is only B.

161. Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.
(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like

OA is B

Can any one explain why?