Whats wrong with A ?
Can't it act as a noun modifier ?

Hi guys,

A simple participial modifier works best in this construction!

A) A noun modifier, Appositive phrase, will not be appropriate in this construction. Since, the appositive phrase modifies the noun it is attached to; in this case, the wavelike movement. But the focus of this question is to highlight how birds and fish 'instinctively use' the wavelike movement. So, we need an adverbial, which is provided by the participial modifier in option D.

B)Option B can be eliminated for the same reasons as in option A. Further, the construction is awkward. The comma is unnecessary.

C)The comma is unnecessary. Further, 'as' is a conjunction and must be followed by a clause to compare with the previous clause. Here, 'as' is followed by a noun phrase which is inappropriate.

E)The infinitive is inappropriately placed. The infinitive modifies wavelike movement whereas we need to highlight the verb instinctively use

Option D uses the most appropriate method,the participial modifier, to modify the verb instinctively use and is superior to all the other options. Hence D.

Also, the meaning difference between Option D and option E is subtle. Option E suggests that the two actions ,use of movements and protecting, occur in a sequence, separately. However, if we check the construction of the sentence, it suggests that the use of movements and the protecting occurred simultaneously . The protecting occurred as an accompanying circumstance, like a circumstance adverbial. The infinitive in option E suggests sequential action which is not the intended meaning. Hence, option D with its participle suggesting a simultaneous occurrence of the two actions is correct

OE

Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors:

The underlined portion seems like a wordy way to begin explaining the purpose of the wavelike movement. It is also not correct with the reflexive "themselves." The underlined portion needs to contain an action that applies to the subjects—the birds and fish. "A method" does not do this. Expect the correct answer to introduce the rest of the explanation more concisely and to fit with "themselves."

Scan and Group the Answer Choices:

A quick scan of the choices doesn't reveal any patterns that can be used for a useful grouping. Fortunately, the choices are short, so analyzing each one will not take long.

Eliminate Wrong Answer Choices:

(B) is as wordy as (A) and doesn't improve upon it in any way. Eliminate (B).

(C)'s "as a protection of themselves against predators" is unidiomatic. Creatures may protect themselves, or use protection against predators, or obtain protection from predators. But it is simply not said that creatures do something as a protection of. Eliminate (C).

(E) may be tempting, and it would indeed be correct if there were no comma after "movement." It would have made sense to say, "use highly coordinated wavelike movement to protect themselves...." But with the comma, "to protect" doesn't fit in. (E) must be eliminated.

(D) is a concise, direct improvement on the wordy original. When the creatures use the wavelike movement, they are "protecting themselves against predators...." A similar, simpler example of this construction is People carry umbrellas, protecting themselves against rain. (D) is correct.

TAKEAWAY: Although punctuation is not explicitly tested in Sentence Correction, it can come into play when determining the best wording. The best way to deal with a sentence that tests wording in this way is to read the choices back into the sentence, being sure to note the punctuation marks.

daagh, AndrewN Could you please help me with this sentence? Since infinitives define purpose, so should the coordinated movement of the birds and fishes be followed by "to protect" rather than "protecting" which signifies does not signify that they are protected as a result of their coordinated movement.

Thanks for your help !

Hello, aritrar4. The problem with using the infinitive in the sentence at hand is that you cannot negotiate the comma before the underlined portion. Remove that comma, and (E) would be correct: X and Y use highly-coordinated wavelike movement [in order] to protect themselves... Choice (D) serves in the same explanatory (adverbial) capacity, and, more importantly, the -ing phrase works with the comma to modify the preceding clause. You can almost picture a ghost thereby at the head of the phrase: X and Y use highly-coordinated wavelike movement, [thereby] protecting themselves... The comma here makes all the difference.

I hope that helps clarify the issue. If not, feel free to ask for additional help. Thank you for calling my attention to the question.

- Andrew

Thank you AndrewN, I'd missed the comma again...

Agree a N+NM would fit in more here
verb-ing would modify "wave-like movement"
egmat could you please opine?

Hi, can you explain why A is wrong?
I think both A and D are correct.

Please tell us why A or E is wrong

Flocks of birds and schools of fish instinctively use highly-coordinated wavelike movement, a method to protect themselves against predators that would much rather attack an individual member that strays from the group.

A) a method to protect Incorrect

it could be correct if that is used - a method that protect themselves, than it could be uses as noun modifier

B) as a method protecting Incorrect

as a method uses wrong as modifier

C) as a protection of Incorrect

as a protection uses wrong as modifier

D) protecting Correct

by using that method they protect themselves......... - correct uses

E) to protect Incorrect

to uses as modifier is wrong

to us not used as modifier - flocks use blah blah to protect themselves