Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively

We have to compare climates of both the regions and should be in the same voice.
Only Option D does that.

Thanks,
Atul

Answers A and E are grammatically incorrect and illogical. They are not parallel (the first part of the sentence in both choices is a phrase and the second is a clause). Moreover, they are not linked with any linking device. They are only separated with a comma.
Answer B is also incorrectly structured. It sounds awkward to start the sentence from "with oaks preferring." Moreover, the first part of the sentence uses the pronoun "ones", although the referent "climates" appears in the second part of the structure.
Answer C includes the linking device "whereas." We use "whereas" to compare to clauses. However, here it is inserted between a clause and a phrase. Thus this answer is grammatically incorrect.
Answer D corrects the mistake that we see in C and it is the only grammatically and logically correct choice.
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this problem is hard. I think

this problem test us "absolute phrase".

I want to write many words on this point.

absolute phrase works as an adverb.This mean it modifies a clause. absolute phrase can have "with" or not

with the government reducing tax, I open more businesses.

we can cut off "with".

dont confuse above pattern with the following

with good spirit, I learn gmat.

in this pattern, "with good spirit" refers to subject of main clause. in contrast, in absolute phrase, "with phrase" do not refer to the subject of main clause.this point is hard and basic and, so, are preference of gmat.

now come back to absolute phrase.

absolute phrase work as adverb to the main clause . but, what is meaning relation between "this adverb" and the main clause?
this pattern permit many meaning relations: context of main clause, reason of main clause, effect of main clause. this pattern permit many meaning relations, making many persons think that it permit any meaning relations they like

but this pattern dose not permit CONTRAST MEANING RELATION. that is why A and B is wrong.

do you like my posting?

Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates.

(A) Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates. - Oaks preferring should not modify pine treees
(B) With oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates. - same as A
(C) Whereas oaks prefer drier ones, with pine trees thriving in relatively wet climates. -- no independent clause
(D) Pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates, whereas oaks prefer drier ones. - Correct
(E) Pine trees thriving in climates that are relatively wet ones, oaks prefer drier climates. -- first part is phrase and part after the comma is a clause and they have not been linked properly

Answer D
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Although its a GMATprep question, I do not understand that the fact that "How can oak prefer ?" suitable word would have sounded logical.
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in the pattern
with+noun+doing/do-ed/modifier , main clause
the phrase "with..." work as adverb showing context and reason of main clause but not a contrast with main clause
that is why only d is correct.

the with phrase is called versatile because it shows many meaning relations with main clause but not all meaening relation.

(A) Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates.
(B) With oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates.
(C) Whereas oaks prefer drier ones, with pine trees thriving in relatively wet climates.
(D) Pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates, whereas oaks prefer drier ones.
(E) Pine trees thriving in climates that are relatively wet ones, oaks prefer drier climates

Only D makes sense.
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1. Oaks preferring drier ones is a figurative speech and not literal. For example, we say that for his majesty and courage, he is a lion. But, is he really a lion?
2. D is the best one for bringing out the contrast.
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Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates.

(A) Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates. --> no conjunction or contract between "Oaks & pine trees"
(B) With oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates. --> no contrast
(C) Whereas oaks prefer drier ones, with pine trees thriving in relatively wet climates. --> no independent clause
(D) Pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates, whereas oaks prefer drier ones. --> correct
(E) Pine trees thriving in climates that are relatively wet ones, oaks prefer drier climates. --> no conjunction or contract between "Oaks & pine trees"

in the pattern
(with) noun+noun modifier+ main clause

the phrase (with) noun+noun modifier ( "with" exist or not)
is adverb modifying main clause but the problem is that this adverb can show many meaning relation with the main clause such as context, reason, and effect. but it can not show a contrast in meaning with the main clause. so, choice A, B and E are wrong because they show the contrast.

choice D is good..

Oaks preferring drier ones, pine trees thrive in relatively wet climates.
Clearly there should be a contrast between the preferences of Oaks and Pine trees.

No contrasting words. A is out.

With doesn't work to provide contrast . B is out.

With doesn't serve as a contrasting word.

whereas provides contrast, Pine trees are compared with Oaks. OK.

A really messy soup of words.

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