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16 Apr 2022, 08:49
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Namangupta1997
Hello, Namangupta1997. No, it is no more illogical to say that Neanderthals had a vocal tract than to say that humans have a digestive system. No one would reasonably argue that all humans are understood to share a digestive system. Rather, the context of the sentence suggests that the digestive system is a shared characteristic of humans, just as a vocal tract was a common trait among Neanderthals.
You are absolutely right about the answer to your second question. You have to be really careful to consider the full sentence on these tougher questions. A comparison may be correct, but you cannot lose track of the subject itself. Here is the sentence with (E) inserted (I will highlight the main clause in blue):
Quote:
Vocal tracts were without language? In light of the fact that vocal tracts are not considered independent living organisms, but are rather part of the body of an animal, it does not make sense to write the above. It is the Neanderthals who are thought to have been without language, and this understanding alone can whittle down the answer pool to (A) and (B) pretty quickly. I like this question because it does a great job of distracting a test-taker with a comparison when the overarching consideration is one of meaning.
Perhaps the question makes more sense now. Thank you for thinking to ask.
- Andrew
02 Nov 2023, 05:15
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Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
Option Elimination -
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes - "a vocal tract" singular compared with plural (those). Moreover, "the" limits to certain apes. Wrong.
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s - "vocal tract" is compared with ape's (vocal tract). Moreover, "a" general vocal tract is compared with "an" general vocal tract of any ape. Ok. "resembling" is an ING modifier which, when placed without a comma, modifies the noun before it, i.e., "vocal tract" in this case. ok
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape’s - more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." Wrong. "the" specific Neanderthal vocal tracts are compared with "an" general ape's vocal tract.
(D) The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts resembled the apes’ - more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." "The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts" specific "Neanderthal" vocal tracts (not one tract) compared with the apes’ - multiple specific apes vocal tracts.
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes -more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." "The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals" "the" still create the specificity and compare with specific apes.
Option Elimination -
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes - "a vocal tract" singular compared with plural (those). Moreover, "the" limits to certain apes. Wrong.
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s - "vocal tract" is compared with ape's (vocal tract). Moreover, "a" general vocal tract is compared with "an" general vocal tract of any ape. Ok. "resembling" is an ING modifier which, when placed without a comma, modifies the noun before it, i.e., "vocal tract" in this case. ok
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape’s - more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." Wrong. "the" specific Neanderthal vocal tracts are compared with "an" general ape's vocal tract.
(D) The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts resembled the apes’ - more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." "The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts" specific "Neanderthal" vocal tracts (not one tract) compared with the apes’ - multiple specific apes vocal tracts.
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes -more significant issue - "vocal tracts ..were without language." "The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals" "the" still create the specificity and compare with specific apes.
But just bear with me for the sake of clarity to our friend @donu) 
