Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in species-spe

(A) and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from that of
Flies does not agree with that.

(B) and apparently this assists flies when they taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from those of
"when" is unnecessarily used. It should refer to time.

(C) which apparently assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in being able to distinguish their own species from
"which" refers to "courtship".

(D) apparently assisting flies to taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from those of
"seems ok"

(E) apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from
Flies do not agree with that. Comparing species with flies.

I will go with D.

distinguish their own species from others [species]
idiom: distinguish X from Y

distinguish their own species from those/that of other[species] ---> THOSE/THAT refers to what?
A,B,D are out
C --out WHICH incorrectly refers to courtship.


E is my answer

I think GmatPrep sucessful because it can lure you into the trap. To illustrate, many of us, including me, fell in the D trap!

Thanks x2suresh, OA is E!

IMO E too.

Hydrocarbons is the subject so the last part should refer to hydrocarbons rather than the "way in which fruit flies perfume". A, B and C out.

D=> "to assist" is not the intended meaning.

OA is E.....

can anyone explain me...what is the difference between THOSE OF & THAT OF
i mean when to use these options

"That of" is used to refer singular noun where as "those of" is used to refer plural noun. I am not sure though.

those refer to species.
Whats wrong with D?

Problem with D is "assisting flies to taste". This phrase changes the meaning of the whole sentence. The hydrocarbons assists in distinguishing the species and not assists in tasting which actually D mentions. E correctly mentions "assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons.... in distinguishing....."

(D) apparently assisting flies to taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from those of

It seems to be conveying that purpose of assistance is "to taste the hydrocarbons", which is definitely not the intended meaning.

i fell for D too....is this a GMAT prep question?

Can any expert reply on this one please.....

According to https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/forums/hydrocarbons-with-which-fruit-flies-perfume-themselves-t1903.html, it is.

Hi chetan2u . daagh /

I have a doubt in A and E.

Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in species-specific blends, are known to be important
in courtship, and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish
their own species from that of others[/b].

A. and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish [b]their own species from that of others.
E. apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from

OA- E.


First I eliinated A because of word "THIS" but in the end--> don't we need that/those..?

A. distinguish their own species from that of others. --> That = species

If we remove "that" then we are comparing ---> species (in A) and Others ...
According to me it should be-

and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own
species from species of

So, to refer back to species we need "THAT"

Can you please help..??

Thanks in Advance

Hi,

I think ellipsis has come to play in choice E or else it would be redundant.

apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from others [' species]

Aves is right. "Others" here means "other species," so the word "that" is redundant or meaningless.

Even if this is what the sentence is trying to say, it should use "those" and not "that" because clearly we are talking about many species.

I worked hard to spend many hours for the GMAT preparation

or
I worked hard, spending hours for the GMAT preparation.

In the first sentence, to spend hours- is not my intention or purpose

In the second sentence, spending hours is the consequence of the hard work

So choice D is wrong for that reason
choice D says, hydrocarbon assisting flies to taste


the meaning of the sentence is hydrocarbon assist flies that taste it in distinguishing their species from others (species)
'those of others' has an issue; it should just be 'others' - it's clear that the intention is to refer to other species, not to something of other species).