Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Ayrish wrote:
One of the primary distinctions between our intelligence with that of other primates may lay not so much in any specific skill but in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones.
(A) between our intelligence with that of other primates may lay not so much in any specific skill but
(B) between our intelligence with that of other primates may lie not so much in any specific skill but instead
(C) between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie not so much in any specific skill as
(D) our intelligence has from that of other primates may lie not in any specific skill as
(E) of our intelligence to that of other primates may lay not in any specific skill but
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Idioms + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
• Transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not.
• “not so much A as B” is a correct idiomatic usage; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
• "distinction between", "distinction...from", and "distinction...in" are the correct, idiomatic constructions".
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("our intelligence") with B ("that of other primates")"; “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the transitive verb "lay" without a direct object for it to act upon; remember, transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("our intelligence") with B ("that of other primates")"; “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel. Further, Option B uses the redundant phrase "but instead", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; this phrase is redundant, as "but" and "instead" both convey the same information.
C: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the idiomatic construction "not so much A ("in any specific skill") as B ("in our ability...ones")", conveying the intended meaning - that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie
more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill. Further, Option C correctly uses the intransitive verb "lie" in the absence of a direct object. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic constructions "distinction between" and "between A ("our intelligence") and B ("that of other primates")". Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "not A ("in any specific skill") as B ("in our ability...ones")", leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill; remember, “not so much A as B” is a correct idiomatic usage; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "not in any specific skill but"; the use of the idiomatic construction “not A but B” incorrectly implies that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie
entirely in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones
rather than in any specific skill; the intended meaning is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie
more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the transitive verb "lay" without a direct object for it to act upon; remember, transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "distinction...to"; please remember, "distinction between", "distinction...from", and "distinction...in" are the correct, idiomatic constructions".
Hence, C is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team