bakfed wrote:
According to one expert, the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog is not so much that dogs are being bred for looks or to meet other narrow criteria as that the breeds have relatively few founding members.
(A) the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog is not so much that dogs are being bred for looks or to meet other narrow criteria
(B) the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog is not as much their being bred for looks or meeting other narrow criteria as much
(C) it is not so much the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog that they are being bred for looks or meeting other narrow criteria as much
(D) it is not so much that the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog is their being bred for looks or meeting other narrow criteria so much
(E) it is not so much the cause of genetic irregularities in many breeds of dog to be bred for looks or to meet other narrow criteria
This is a idiom question. And the idiom in the question is correct. the cause of....is not so much that....as that... We might as well categorize this question as a so-as construct question.
My technique is to break the sentence with proper pauses to make logical constructs. If something sounds awkward, it needs a fix.
According to one expert, | the cause of genetic irregularities | in many breeds of dog | is not so much | that dogs are being bred for looks or to meet other narrow criteria | as that the breeds have relatively few founding members.
The given sentence itself makes complete sense, the intent is clear, concise, and active-voice actually.