Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
fozzzy wrote:
In laboratory rats, a low dose of aspirin usually suffices to block production of thromboxane, which is a substance that promotes blood clotting, but not seriously interfering with the production of prostacyclin, which prevents clotting.
(A) which is a substance that promotes blood clotting, but not seriously interfering
(B) a substance that promotes blood clotting, but not seriously interfering
(C) a substance that promotes blood clotting, but does not seriously interfere
(D) which is a substance to promote blood clotting, but does not seriously interfere
(E) which is a substance that promotes blood clotting, but not a serious interference
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that thromboxane is a substance that promotes blood clotting
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Verb Forms + Parallelism + Awkwardness/Redundancy• Any elements linked by a conjunction (“but” in this sentence) must be parallel.
• The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + promote” in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
A: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “suffices to block production of thromboxane” and “not seriously interfering with the production of prostacyclin”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“but” in this sentence) must be parallel. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “which is a substance”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “suffices to block production of thromboxane” and “not seriously interfering with the production of prostacyclin”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“but” in this sentence) must be parallel.
C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “that promotes blood clotting”; the construction of this phrase conveys the intended meaning – that thromboxane is a substance, and
as a separate action, it promotes blood clotting. Further, Option C correctly maintains parallelism between “suffices to block production of thromboxane” and “does not seriously interfere with the production of prostacyclin”. Additionally, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of this sentence through the phrase “to promote blood clotting”; the use of the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + promote” in this sentence) illogically implies that thromboxane is a substance
for the purpose of promoting blood clotting; the intended meaning is that thromboxane is a substance, and
as a separate action, it promotes blood clotting; remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + promote” in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action. Further, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase “which is a substance”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “suffices to block production of thromboxane” and “not a serious interference with the production of prostacyclin”; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction (“but” in this sentence) must be parallel. Further, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase “which is a substance”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team