Most Asian bat species seem to be resistant to the usually deadly whit

Hi daysleisure,

The issue with "seemingly are resistant" is that "seemingly" is an adverb that is modifying the verb "are resistant". This modification does not make any sense. Adverb describe "how" the action took place or expound their modified verb. Eg: Rick spoke hastily at the seminar. [hastily [/i] is an adverb modifying the action "spoke", giving further information on "how" Rick spoke. Thus, "seemingly" here does not expound its modified verb "are resistant" in any way imaginable. Thus, this modification is incorrect.

In (A) on the other hand, "seem to be resistant" is void of any such modification error.

Hope it helps.

Hi PyjamaScientist,

In choice A , the noun "an evolutionary advantage that may " is a noun+noun modifier modifying the Asian Bat Species.
Also it jumps over white nose fungal infection as it would be illogical that "an evolutionary advantage" modify white nose fungal infection.

Also Choice E is grammatically correct. But
, + FANBOYS ( , and they ) makes the last part Independent Clause and also changes the meaning which is not intended by the author.

Is my reasoning correct?

Expert's Global Official Explanation:

Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction

The intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that most Asian bat species are resistant to a certain infection, and this resistance is an evolutionary advantage.

• Information that is important to the core meaning should not be placed within two commas.

A. Correct. This answer choice preserves the intended meaning of the sentence, which is that most Asian bat species are resistant to a certain infection, and this resistance is an evolutionary advantage. Further, Option A uses the appropriately idiomatic construction “seem to be”.

B. This answer choice utilizes the unidiomatic construction “seemingly are” rather than the correct construction “are seemingly”.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses “and”, leading to the incorrect implication that “…resistant to…” and “have an evolutionary advantage” are two separate entities; the intended meaning is that the bats have a resistance, which is an evolutionary advantage.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses “and”, leading to the incorrect implication that “…resistant to…” and “to have an evolutionary advantage” are two separate entities; the intended meaning is that the bats have a resistance, which is an evolutionary advantage. Further, Option D lacks an active verb to act upon “to have…”, as “seemingly” is an adverb that modifies the verb “are”; thus, Option D fails to maintain parallelism between “are resistant to…” and “to have an…”. Additionally, Option D utilizes the unidiomatic construction “seemingly are” rather than the correct construction “are seemingly”.

E. This answer choice incorrectly uses “and”, leading to the incorrect implication that “…resistant to…” and “have an evolutionary advantage” are two separate entities; the intended meaning is that the bats have a resistance, which is an evolutionary advantage. Further, Option E incorrectly includes the necessary phrase “it seems” between two commas; only information that can be removed without affecting the core meaning of the sentence should be placed between commas.

A is the best answer choice.

Expert's Global Video Explanation: