Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.

A. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.

B. that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of all other sparrows

C. living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows

D. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of all other sparrows

E. living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than all other sparrows
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SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL, OXFORD - MBA CLASS OF 2008

i also chosed B at first but laer changed to D for llism and proper modifying phrase. the phrase "almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees" properly definies why the sparrow lives only in cypress groves.

in B, this aspect is considered a seperate act of this species of sparrow.

Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of all other sparrows

very good question.

Will go with B.

A/C/D violate the S-V agreement with "whose".
"that" is required hence E is out.

Looks like the test writer wants us to distinguish between A and D.

(D) makes a better comparison.

1:43

OA is B.

OE is:

The original sentence intends to identify a sparrow by the fact that it lives in cypress groves, eats certain berries, and has certain coloring. All these facts about the sparrow must be presented in parallel form. However, in the original sentence, these facts are presented in different forms. We need to find a choice that presents them all in parallel fashion. Moreover, "whose coloring is different from all other sparrows" is incorrect. The sparrow's coloring is different from the coloring of other sparrows, not from the sparrows themselves. We need to find a choice that makes this clear.

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) CORRECT. This choice remedies the parallelism issue: "lives only in...., is almost wholly... and has coloring..." The comparison issue is also remedied: "has coloring different from that of all other sparrows." The comparison is now logically drawn between the coloring of the new species and the coloring (that) of other species.

(C) This answer choice remedies neither the parallelism issue: "living..., is almost..., and whose coloring," nor the illogical comparison (coloring and sparrows).

(D) While this answer choice remedies the comparison, the parallelism issue is still there from the original sentence.

(E) This parallelism issue has been remedied in this answer choice but the illogical comparison has not. In addition, the correct idiomatic expression is different from, not different than.
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SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL, OXFORD - MBA CLASS OF 2008