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target2015
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. Updated on: 25 May 2018, 06:08
Originally posted by target2015 on 23 Jun 2015, 22:18.
Last edited by Bunuel on 25 May 2018, 06:08, edited 2 times in total.
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

53% (00:49) correct 47% (00:45) wrong based on 238 sessions

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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants.


A. older in age to flowering plants.
B. older in age than other flowering plants.
C. old in age like flowering plants.
D. older in age than flowering plants.
E. older in age in comparison to flowering plants.
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D
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vishwaprakash
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 24 Jun 2015, 07:14
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target2015
Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants.
• older in age to flowering plants.
• older in age than other flowering plants.
• old in age like flowering plants.
• older in age than flowering plants.
• older in age in comparison to flowering plants.
Show more

Only B and D can be possible correct answer.

I chose D, since i thought Ferns are flowering plants.

D compares Ferns (As flowering plant) to other flowering plant.
C compared Ferns (As plant) to flowering plants.

I got it wrong.

But my confusion is, without outside knowledge about fern (whether it is flowering or not), how to choose correct option.
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DollySharma
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 24 Jun 2015, 13:07
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Quote:
Only B and D can be possible correct answer.

I chose D, since i thought Ferns are flowering plants.

D compares Ferns (As flowering plant) to other flowering plant.
C compared Ferns (As plant) to flowering plants.

I got it wrong.

But my confusion is, without outside knowledge about fern (whether it is flowering or not), how to choose correct option.
Show more


You can choose between the two by maintaining the intended meaning of the original sentence. The original sentence doesn't intend that 'ferns' are 'flowering plants'.

Does it make sense?

Happy Prepping! :)
Dolly
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narmadadhruv
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 25 Jun 2015, 13:06
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DollySharma
Quote:
Only B and D can be possible correct answer.

I chose D, since i thought Ferns are flowering plants.

D compares Ferns (As flowering plant) to other flowering plant.
C compared Ferns (As plant) to flowering plants.

I got it wrong.

But my confusion is, without outside knowledge about fern (whether it is flowering or not), how to choose correct option.


You can choose between the two by maintaining the intended meaning of the original sentence. The original sentence doesn't intend that 'ferns' are 'flowering plants'.

Does it make sense?

Happy Prepping! :)
Dolly
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I still didn't get it! Pls elaborate!
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DollySharma
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 25 Jun 2015, 23:43
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Quote:


I still didn't get it! Pls elaborate!
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Hi narmadadhruv

I'm happy to respond! :)

My answer to Vishwaprakash was based on his understanding of the question. Could you please point out the part you didn't understand? Knowing your doubt will help me provide you a better answer.

Here is a bit about the question-

The question presents a comparison between two things:

1) Ferns
2) flowering plants

Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants.
• older in age to flowering plants. -

This option is unidiomatic. The correct idiom is "older...than".

• older in age than other flowering plants.

• old in age like flowering plants.

The option tries to establish a similarity between 'Ferns' and 'flowering plants'. It implies that both Ferns and flowering plants are old in age. However, the original sentence intends that "Ferns" are older.

Intended meaning: Ferns> flowering plants
Option C: Ferns= flowering plants

• older in age than flowering plants.

• older in age in comparison to flowering plants.
Just as in A, the correct idiom is "older... than"


This leaves us with B and D.

The only difference between B and D is the use of "other" in B.

vishwaprakash has already explained the meaning difference in both the options.

• older in age than other flowering plants.

It compares"Ferns" with "other flowering plants"

Use of "other" implies that "Ferns" are also "flowering plants". This changes the intended meaning of the sentence.

Here is an example:
Joe dances better than any other dancer. (This implies that Joe is a member of the group compared, i.e. Joe is a dancer).
Joe dances better than any dancer. (This implies that Joe is NOT a member of the group compared, i.e. Joe is not a dancer).



• older in age than flowering plants.
This compares "Ferns" with "flowering plants".

Hence D.

Not a good question. I doubt the credibility of the source.


Happy Prepping!
Dolly
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narmadadhruv
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 26 Jun 2015, 23:04
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DollySharma
Quote:


vishwaprakash has already explained the meaning difference in both the options.
[/color]
• older in age than other flowering plants.

It compares"Ferns" with "other flowering plants"

Use of "other" implies that "Ferns" are also "flowering plants". This changes the intended meaning of the sentence.

Here is an example:
Joe dances better than any other dancer. (This implies that Joe is a member of the group compared, i.e. Joe is a dancer).
Joe dances better than any dancer. (This implies that Joe is NOT a member of the group compared, i.e. Joe is not a dancer).



• older in age than flowering plants.
This compares "Ferns" with "flowering plants".

Hence D.

Not a good question. I doubt the credibility of the source.


Happy Prepping!
Dolly
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I could not have thought of more elaborate explanation! I had same doubt as did vishwaprakash.

Thanks for resolving!
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 28 Jun 2015, 08:07
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Quote:

I could not have thought of more elaborate explanation! I had same doubt as did vishwaprakash.

Thanks for resolving!
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Thanks!

Happy to help! :-D
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Ferns are over a million years older in age to flowering plants. 12 Dec 2021, 11:14
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Official Explanation

Choice (A) is idiomatically wrong as it should be older in age than not older in age to.

Choice (B) wrongly implies that ferns are also flowering plants.

Choice (C) wrongly implies that ferns and flowering plants both are over a million years old.

Choice (E) uses a superfluous in comparison to. This is already implied by the use of a comparative older.

Choice (D) is the best option.
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