Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in

Question

Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in species-specific blends, are known to be important in courtship,  and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from that of  others.

A. and apparently this assists flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from that of

B. and apparently this assists flies when they taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from those of

C. which apparently assists flies that tastes the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in being able to distinguish their own species from

D. apparently assisting flies to taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from those of

E. apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species from

Please explain.
thanks

abhijit_sen · Answer

IMO D.
A, B, and C are wrong because it is not courtship rather Hydrocarbons which helps to distinguish.

D is proper comparison while E is not. More "to distinguish" is better than "in distinguishing".
Correct idiom "to distinguish x from y" where both x and y should be parallel.

rao · Answer

distinguish X from Y D -- distinguish 'their own species' from ' those of others' HERE COMPARING "SPECIES" with " SOMETHING OF Other SPECIES" --- THIS IS ILLOGICAL. E - distingusih 'thier own species' from 'others' Good point. Correct answer is E

Ashwin_Mohan · Answer

Why do you thing E is wrong? You are comparing  one set of species  from  another ...E states this clearly? It does use the idiom correctly as well.

tarek99 · Answer

OA is E. What's wrong with D, and what makes E correct?

neeshpal · Answer

IMO , one factor to eliminate d is that its not a parallel construction.

assisting.....to distinguish

second factor is explained above in regards to comparison.

E eliminates both of these factors.

goalsnr · Answer

I re-visited the SC and this is what I understand :

D:Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in species-specific blends, are known to be important in courtship, apparently assisting flies to taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from those of others.

E:Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in species-specific blends, are known to be important in courtship,apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species fromothers.

After you remove the modifier you will see why D sounds illogical.

Hydrocarbons, are known to be important in courtship, apparently  assisting flies to taste the hydrocarbon s on prospective mates to distinguish their own species from those of others.

Hydrocarbons,are known to be important in courtship,apparently assisting flies that taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates in distinguishing their own species fromothers.

goalsnr · Answer

I dont think D has incorrect comparision

distinguish  'their own species'  from  ' those of others' 
 - flies of one species  -  flies of other species

spriya · Answer

assisting to is incorrect usage ...
assisting in is correct

secretary assisted boss in completing the job -> sounds good
secretary assisted boss to complete the job -> INCORRECT

again in (D) apparently assisting flies  to taste the hydrocarbons on prospective mates to distinguish their own species  from those of -> hydrocarbons assisting flies to taste hydrocarbons -> is a mess -> hence spoils the meaning of the statement.hence eliminated 
(E) is correct IMO.
compare  species with other species  hence  those of  is not required.

Hydrocarbons, with which fruit flies perfume themselves in

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