Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system who displays modifier "who" modifies people, i dont think kingdom is people and therefore think that "that" should modify kingdom
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display out because should be "kingdom displays"
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays correct
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displayingshould be is
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displaysfeel like it misses that


ohh hope im not mistaken with the answer and all my work is not a waste

By POE: A

I have read sentences in which "who" is used not only with people.

Disclosure: Taken from Knewton Quiz solution.

Explanation

This sentence displays a special kind of pronoun-antecedent agreement error. Describing kingdom Eubacteria as one of something means that the entity that the singular kingdom is one of must be plural.

Think about simpler cases: "This program is one of my favorite shows," NOT "This program is one of my favorite show."

Kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of...the classification system (a singular noun) is incorrect.

Additionally, the original construction uses the pronoun who, which is used to refer to a person, to describe the kingdom Eubacteria.

Choice C uses a simpler and grammatically correct construction to express the same idea. Kingdom Eubacteria, a singular noun, agrees with the singular verb displays. Alone among is an idiomatically correct expression. That comprise the classification system is an adjective clause immediately following the noun it describes, the six kingdoms. The correct answer is C.

Choice B retains the "singular item out of a singular entity" error. Additionally, they is used to refer to a singular pronoun, kingdom Eubacteria.

Choice D uses the plural are to describe a singular noun, kingdom Eubacteria. In displaying is an awkward and unclear prepositional phrase.

Choice E retains the singular item out of a singular entity error. Additionally, only of is an idiomatically incorrect, unclear, and awkward way of expressing one item out of several items; this expression would mean a number of things: the shirt only of (made of) wool.

Thanks for your input! I've posted the full solution.

Cheers.

Dude, your questions are tough!
Please, post more!

thanks for posting such a quick reply. Yes i noticed that too, that it should be systems instead of system but didnt stress it for some reason

Thanks...I'll post them as I get to them.

Cheers.

so modifier who is correct in this sentence

The basic difficulty arises in identifying option C as the correct answer. Option C appears to be a run-on sentence because a verb is missing after kingdom Eubateria. Students expect a verb there :- Kingdom Eubateria (is) alone among.... However, the phrase that follows Kingdom Eubacteria ["alone among the six kingdoms...system"] is a modifier, modifying Kingdom Eubacteria. The main verb in this clause is "displays" and agrees with singular Kingdom Eubacteria. This construction is grammatically superior than the other options.

**Chop down the sentence to eliminate some of the clutter**

Able to synthesize chemical energy, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system who displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system who displays --> who should not modify system, it should modify bacteria. ELIMINATE
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display --> eliminate...Eubacteria is established as singular (because of "it" in the original sentence); display in this sentence implies bacteria is plural, thus ELIMINATE
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays --> Correct by POE
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying --> ones implies
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays --> incomplete clause. ELIMINATE

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