Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
GMAT TIGER wrote:
The investigations of many psychologist and anthropologists support the generalization of there being little that is a significant difference in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures.
(A) of there being little that is a significant difference
(B) of there being little that is significantly different
(C) of little that is significant different
(D) that there is little that is significantly different
(E) that there is little that is significant differences
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization that there is little that is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• An adjective can only modify a noun; it cannot modify another adjective; to modify an adjective, an adverb must be used; generally, adjective+ly leads to an adverb.
A: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "generalization of there being little"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization that there is little that is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "that is a significant difference", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "generalization of there being little"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization that there is little that is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures.
C: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "generalization of little"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the act of
generalizing about what little is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures; the intended meaning is that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support
the generalization that there is little that is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the adjective "significant" to modify the adjective "different"; please remember, an adjective can only modify a noun; it cannot modify another adjective; to modify an adjective, an adverb must be used; generally, adjective+ly leads to an adverb.
D: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "generalization that there is little that is significantly different", conveying the intended meaning - that there is little that is significantly different. Further, Option D correctly uses the adverb "significantly" to modify the adjective "different". Additionally, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of this sentence through the phrase "little that is significant differences"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization that there is little that is significantly different in underlying mental processes manifested by people from different cultures.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team