Another Classic one by Veritas !

[himu]

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, which gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, which gather in large, sociable swarms, have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable for harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, gathering in large, sociable swarms, have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable for harmful viruses.

[fulltapori]

is it D

[aaggar7]

IMO A

[killerdrummer]

IMO A

[David@VeritasPrep]

Glad you liked it.

I think the key is the phrase "circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses"

What does it logically modify?

I think that B D and E can be eliminated since Fruit bats should not "have...circumstances" they have long life spans and they gather in sociable swarms.

So between A and C which is best and why?

[ranjeet75]

A is better between A and C.

In C, there is no verb for "Fruit bats", "which" takes the verb "have".

In A, "circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses" is a noun modifier and it is modifying the complete clause "Fruits bats ........ life spans".

[aircraft]

I would also definitely go with A. I don't like that "which" at all because IMO a verb must follow which.

Fruit bats[, which bla bla bla], circumstances that bla bla. If you only read the main sentence without the subordinate clause it does not make sense.

[Blue_Skies]

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, which gather in large, sociable swarms and have long life spans, circumstances that may be particularly hospitable to harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, which gather in large, sociable swarms, have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable for harmful viruses.

Fruit bats, gathering in large, sociable swarms, have long life spans and circumstances that may be particularly hospitable for harmful viruses.

Nice Question, here's my thought process :
circumstances that may be particularly hospitable for harmful viruses -> should be modified by something. I also see other reasoning in the thread and i agree. have circumstances is also in-correct.
Between A and C, i will pick A as which demands non-essential modifier here. I mean Fruit bats, whihc do x,y and z are also a rare species. Something like this. For that reason, i think C is Incorrect.

[jack.daniel]

Circumstances are:
1. Gather in large, social swarms
2. Long life spans

B,D and E illogically relate Bats with circumstances
In C, there is no verb for bats.

I have 1 query:
Which is more idiomatic: 'hospitable to' or 'hospitable for'?
and why?