Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
As with ants, the elaborate social structure of termites includes a few individuals reproducing and the rest serve the colony by tending juveniles, gathering food, building the nest, or battling intruders.
(A) As with ants, the elaborate social structure of termites includes a few individuals reproducing
(B) As do ants, termites have an elaborate social structure, which includes a few individuals to reproduce
(C) Just as with ants, termite social structure is elaborate, including a few individuals for reproducing
(D) Like ants, termites have an elaborate social structure in which a few individuals reproduce
(E) Like that of ants, the termite social structure is elaborate, including a few individuals that reproduce
Choice A: This answer choice incorrectly compares "ants" to "the termite social structure". This answer choice also incorrectly uses the continuous tense to state a universal truth, leading to a parallelism break with the verb "serve", which is in the simple present tense. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.
Choice B: This answer choice incorrectly uses "as" to compare the nouns "ants" and "termites". This answer choice also breaks parallelism between the verbs "to reproduce" and "serve". Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.
Choice C: This answer choice repeats the comparison error found in Option A. This answer choice also repeats the tense-related error found in Option A by using the continuous verb "including". Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.
Choice D: This answer choice maintains parallelism and proper tense use throughout the sentence and correctly uses "like" to compare the comparable nouns "ants" and "termites". Thus, this answer choice is correct.
Choice E: This answer choice breaks parallelism between the phrases "individuals that reproduce" and "the rest serve"; remember, elements connected by conjunction must always be parallel. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Like v/s As on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team