Question from official GMAT Paper exam

[jaydeer44]

This is from an official GMAT paper test. Can someone please help explain? The answer is C. I don't understand why "body" does not have to be plural in order to agree with "other arachnids."

Unlike other arachnids, which have their nerve cells evenly distributed along their bodies, the scorpion's nerve cells are clustered in its head, like a mammal's.

A) bodies, the scorpion's nerve cells are clustered in its head, like a mammal's
B) bodies, the scorpion's head has a cluster of nerve cells, as a mammal does
C) body, the scorpion has a cluster of nerve cells in its head, as a mammal does
D) body, nerve cells are clustered in the scorpion's head, like a mammal's
E) body, a cluster of nerve cells is in the scorpion's head, like a mammal's

[just_do_it]

I think the best way to tackle questions like these, is to determine what is being compared and then eliminate the incorrect options.

what is being compared here is - archanids - with scorpians and not "scorpian's nerve cells" as in the original sentence. By that logic, you will be able to eliminate all options except C, which correctly compares archanids with scorpians.

And regarding the usage of the word 'bodies' - it gives an impression that each archanid has more than one body - which is not true.

If someone has another explanation to this, please post your reply.

[California4jx]

Your explanations is absolutely fine. That is how it should be compared.
Cant think of any other explanation ....

[jaydeer44]

thanks!

[bedazzled]

I am ok with the comparison thing....but

Could smbody plz explain why it is not '.....along their bodies, .....' and '....why along their body,....' coz archanids must be plural and their is also plural then why 'body'and not 'bodies'??

[sl750]

C, expresses proper comparison between arachnids and scorpions. I agree it should read bodies and not body