HMC wrote:
(A) 50,000 to 100,000 of the different genes found in a human cell are contained in merely
(B) 50,000 to 100,000 of the human cell’s different genes are contained in a mere
(C) the 50,000 to 100,000 different genes found in human cells are contained in merely
(D) 50,000 to 100,000 of human cell’s different genes is contained in merely
(E) the 50,000 to 100,000 different genes found in a human cell is contained in a mere - CORRECT
Is my analysis right...?
It would be faster to eliminate on the basis of splits, and splits can always be found at the beginning and at the end of the underlined part. If we get a 3:2 split ( as in the case above), we may get to the answer fast.
In the example above, the splits that can be observed immediately are as follows:
beginning of the underlined part: no "the" (A,B, D), "the" (C,E)... 2:3 split.Once we recognise that "the" is required (since a
definite set of genes are referred to), then we can eliminate A,B and D and examine just C and E.
end of the underlined part: "merely" (A,C,D) and "mere" (B, E).. again 2:3 split. Once we recognise that an adjectve, not an adverb, is required, we can eliminate A,C and D and examine just B and E.
We see above that E is the only possible right answer.
Sometimes it would be possible to answer even without reading the main sentence or the answer choices at all (as in this case), although not reading the question at all is not recommended.