Argentine Ant

[Dean Jones]

Dear Friends,

I'm having problems in answering the following question. Please help.

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of
fierce inter-colony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.

A. due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their
fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony
struggles that limits
B. due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be a close
relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limit
C. because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be close
relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that
limits
D. because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their
fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony
struggles that limit
E. because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their
fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony
struggles that limits

OA after some discussions.

Regards
Deano.

[Elena89]

IMO (D)

[patanjali.purpose]

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.

A. due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limits

DUE TO...is used when we intend to show casual relationship. The intended meaning is to show that "bcoz of genetical similarity ants consider..."

THE ANTS...THEIR FELLOWS....does not agree with pronouns in non-underlined part (ITS).

The opening modifiers of 2nd sentence (does not contain complete phrase 'SO...THAT') does not clearly answer SO...WHAT

B. due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limit

DUE TO...is used when we intend to show casual relationship. The intended meaning is to show that "bcoz of genetical similarity ants consider..."

The opening modifiers of 2nd sentence (does not contain complete phrase 'SO...THAT') does not clearly answer SO...WHAT

C. because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limits

Changes the original modifier to a clause & so acts as a intensifier here. The clause (the ants considers...) goes on to explain the intensifier SO.

verb LIMITS refers to the complete phrase 'the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles' and therefore singular correct

D. because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limit

THEY...THE ANTS...THEIR FELLOWS....does not agree with pronouns in non-underlined part (ITS).

E. because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that limits

THE ANTS...THEIR FELLOWS....does not agree with pronouns in non-underlined part (ITS).

IMO C

[athanasepercevalve]

A-

due to their being

-> Incorrect, subject is Argentinian ant
B-

due to its being so genetically similar

-> Incorrect, not very effective and probably misuse of "Due to"
C- Correct IMO
D-

they are so

-> Incorrect, same as A
E-

because of being so

-> Incorrect, not very effective

[aspirant2011]

don't you guys feel that the usage of limits is wrong in option C?

[ColumbiaVC]

B

[mankey]

IMO: C.

Whats the OA?

Thanks

[HSPA]

+1 : C is not totally good

don't you guys feel that the usage of limits is wrong in option C?

[sk8legend408]

IMO B.

The Argentine ant is singular so eliminate A, D, and E.

Struggles is plural so limit should be used...eliminate C. You are left with B.

What's the OA?

[jumsumtak]

IMO D. The plural they might as well refer to "the ants" ...

in C, what is "it" similar to ?


Not very sure though

[Dean Jones]

OA is D. I was also vouching for option C. Can someone explain why option C is not correct?

[jumsumtak]

As I mentioned in my earlier post, option C does not state the intended meaning.

The reader never comes to know what the ant is similar to. It is illogical/ungrammatical to leave the comparison hanging in between. In D it is clearly stated that they are similar to one another.

Also, in answer to someone's query in a post above, 'its' in the non underlined portion refers to 'species' and hence it is aptly used.

[rsarashi]

Hello Experts ,

Please explain that why option C is wrong?

Many thanks in advance.

[DavidG@VeritasPrep]

Hello Experts ,

Please explain that why option C is wrong?

Many thanks in advance.

You could write: X is similar to Y;
You could write: X and Y are similar.

But it would be incoherent to write X is similar without describing what x is similar to.

[Ali Tariq]

C. because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be close
relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce inter-colony struggles that
limits

struggles that limits-->SV disagreement

it is so genetically similar--> similar to what?,
similarity/difference, addition/subtraction, average/ratio, etc require atleast two entities.
There is also another official SC with same type of an error, in which word simultaneously was used for a single event, whereas simultaneously should always be used for atleast two events.
Use appropriate word/phrase for appropriate job, if possible and more importantly if given choice.