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

1. First of all, let’s remove the two wrong choices namely A and E for using ‘lay’ instead of ‘lie’.
2. Remove B for using the wrong idiom of ‘between’ and ‘with’
3. Keep C for using the correct idiom ‘not so much in as in’
4. D: changes the intended meaning. Any specific skill as means that the difference may not lie in our ability to extend knowledge gained … The intended meaning is the opposite of what D implies. This is because of the dropping of the idiom ‘so much in’.

C therefore, is the best.
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Narendran +9198845 44509

IMO C is the right answer.
1) Distinction should be followed by between (in most of the cases) when trying to compare two object(things). So, 'distinctions between' is correct usage, and it should be kept when trying to figure out the correct answer.
2) usage of ' so much' imparts correct sense to the sentence as it is playing down the effect of 'specific skill' as intended by the author.
3) I can't see any idiom usage problem in C. distinction between X and Y is correct usage.

In fact contrary to what you say, I find D wordy and awkward and would never go for it in the real thing.
Anyway, hope it helps.
cheers
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No Execuse..

Your query 1:
When one discusses the difference in meaning between P and Q, one assumes that P and Q are both grammatically correct. However, not X as Y is grammatically wrong. The question of difference in meaning does not arise whatsoever. Not X, but Y is the correct idiom.
A simplified example may make the issue clear:
My favourite colour is not green, but blue.
My favourite colour is not green, as blue. ... the usage of "as" makes the sentence ungrammatical.

Your query2:
The issue of meaning does not arise since option D is wrong idiomatically as stated above.

Note that in option C, the idiom is not "not X, but Y". The idiom in option C is "so X, as Y", which is correct.

Hello amitdey111 - This is what I can think of:

to lie means “to rest,”

to lay means “to put or place.”

To lie is an intransitive verb: it describes an action undertaken by the subject, but it will never have a direct object.

To lay is a transitive verb: it needs a direct object because it describes the kind of action that is done to something.

Now coming back to our option choices:

"between our intelligence and that of other primates may" - Try substituting "lay" - which means "to put" - This is non-sensical. Hence, the usage of "lie" is correct here.
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