C,D,E out.. vocal tracts.. were probably without language.. --> completely wrong.. Neanderthals were without language is correct.

A -- we are comparing vocal tract with "those" (vocal tracts) of apes.. Wrong comparision.

B is perfect.

Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s [vocal tract] ...
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Should it not be Neanderthals had vocal tracts (plural)?

by having plural 'vocal tracts', we are decribing the inherent nature of the vocal tracts (of the Neanderthals) in general, which I think what the sentence is all about.

From the OA, Neanderthals had a vocal tract... seems to refer to a single vocal tract 'shared' by all Neanderthals which I find illogical.

Correct me if I am wrong, but my thinking is that the vocal tracts(plural) of Neanderthals should be compared to the apes' vocal tracts (plural).

-BM-

PLs some one explains.....Why B is the OA.....Its still not clear

Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
IN THIS QUESTION,WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CLUES PROVIDED BY THE LATER PART OF THE SENTENCE.CONCENTARTE ON THE PARTS "AND SO WERE" AND "WHY THEY WERE"..WHAT DO THESE PLURAL FORM SUGGEST;THAT THERE HAS TO BE A VERY CEAR PLURAL SUBJECT PRESENT IN THE EARLIER HALF OF THE SENTENCE..AND ALSO THAT THESE SUBJECTS SHOULD BE CERTAIN LIVING BEINGS WHO POSSESED THESE CHARACTERISTICS.LETS LOOK AT THE OPTIONS
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
YES,THIS SENTENCE HAS SUBJECTS BUT 2 OF THEM NEANDERHALS/APES..WHICH ONES
IS THE LATER HALF REFERRING TO? A LITTLE CONFUSION..RIGHT!!! SUSPECT..LETS SEE OTHERS

(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s
NEANDERTHALS ARE A CLEAR SUBJECT
APE'S (VOAL TRACTS) CANNOT BE A SUBJECT SINCE WE HAVE DECIDED EALRLIER THAT IT HAS TO BE A LIVING ENTITY ..SO IS BETTER THAN A...ELIMINATE A AND KEEP THIS
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape’s
VOCAL TRACTS OF NEANDRTHALS IS THE SUBJECT.FIRST THIS IS SINGULAR AND SECOND
THIS IS NOT OUR APPROPRAITE CHOICE OF SUBJECT....THROW THIS OUT
(D) The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts resembled the apes’
BY NOW IM SURE WE CAN MAKE OUT THAT THIS ALSO LACKS A SUITABLE SUBJECT
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
SAME AS ABOVE

HENCE B IS THE CREDITED OPTION.HOPE THAT HELPED

A - "A vocal tract" is singular, while "those of the apes" is plural. No match.
B- Correct.
C - Vocal tracts cannot be supplanted by a species, nor can they be with or without language. Illogical.
D - "They" refers to Neanderthal's vocal tracts, not Neanderthals. See C above.
E - See C above.
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(B)

(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape’s
(D) The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts resembled the apes’
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
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Raptor

B is the only one that makes sense. The subject needs to be Neanderthals as can be guessed from the non-underlined portion.

B is fine and i guess explanations above just suit fine