Although the turtle has been toothless for more than 150

Question

Although the turtle has been toothless for more than 150 million years, in some contemporary turtle species the moderately sharp and jagged edges of  their horny jaws function for teeth.

A. their horny jaws function for teeth

B. its horny jaws function for teeth

C. its horny jaws function as do teeth

D the horny jaws function as teeth do

E the horny jaws function as teeth

Please explain your answers

leonidas · Answer

(E) for me. function for teeth is unidiomatic. "function as teeth" is idiomatic. 
"do" in (D) is unnecessary.

jatinrai · Answer

IMO E

In X the moderately sharp and jagged edges of horny jaws function as teeth.
( it clear that we are talking about X's horny jaws .. We need not to refer with possesive pronoun.. )

D) Y   function as Z do. "Y" not || "Z do "
E) Y   function as Z. Y ||Z

lylya4 · Answer

Agree with you, also 'their' is the pronoun for 'species', so C is eliminated.

ritula · Answer

I think this is an example of verb comparison. I m confused b/w C and D. BUt D would be my choice.

Nihit · Answer

It should be D , jaws function as teeth do( function)

pm4553 · Answer

as...do

D

A - their
B & C - pronoun error, its
E - as...what? there is no comparision

x2suresh · Answer

Guys,

both D and E are gramatically correct.
But, E is logical here.

E)
horny jaws function as teeth
-->horny jaws act as teeth
--> horny jaws=teeth.

D)
horny jaws function as teeth do.
we are comparing "horny jaws" function as "teeth" function.. 
Author is not trying to say this..

Nihit · Answer

as , because and since introduce a reason clause and hence E is out . The only thing to consider here would be parallelism in C and D .

x2suresh · Answer

I will take another example.

(1) This Computer functions as TV.
 Here it means..this computer itself serves as TV
(2) This Computer functions as TV functions..
 here we are comparing functions of Computer with functions of TV
both are gramatically correct. Depends on the context we need to choose the option.

In the original question, author is clearly saying "contemporary turtle species don't have teeth and horny jaws serve as teeth.

Any takers.

x2suresh · Answer

check the webster dictionary..

an attributive noun  functions as  an adjective

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/function

icandy · Answer

Turtles are toothless, to say HJ function as teeth do implies that T has teeth.

HJ function as teeth means HJ replace teeth and provide the same functionality

ritula · Answer

statement says moderately sharp and jagged edges of horny jaws function

x2suresh · Answer

yeap you are right..

previous posts ..you can replace.. horny jaws with edges..

Answer is same..

edges serves as teeth.

Although the turtle has been toothless for more than 150

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