Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
LM wrote:
Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.
(A) as old as any of their supposed
(B) older than any of their supposed
(C) as old as their supposed
(D) older than any of their supposedly
(E) as old as their supposedly
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to getting this question correct; the intended meaning of this sentence is that carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years older than the Mediterranean monuments that were once thought to be older than them.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison. The comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction incorrectly conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage.
B: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the comparative adjective “older” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages. Further, Option B correctly uses the adjective “supposed” to modify the noun “predecessors”, conveying the intended meaning - that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than the megalithic monuments in Brittany.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction incorrectly conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage.
D: Trap. The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “their supposedly Mediterranean predecessors”; the use of the adverb “supposedly” to modify the adjective “Mediterranean” incorrectly implies that the megalithic monuments in Brittany were not actually from the Mediterranean; the intended meaning is that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than megalithic monuments in Brittany.
E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage. Further, the sentence formed by Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “their supposedly Mediterranean predecessors”; the use of the adverb “supposedly” to modify the adjective “Mediterranean” incorrectly implies that the megalithic monuments in Brittany were not actually from the Mediterranean; the intended meaning is that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than megalithic monuments in Brittany.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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