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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
rgarg1nortel wrote:
Doctors still know little about how the Listeria bacterium is spread and why the disease it causes, listeriosis, afflicts some people in a contaminated area though it spares many others.
(A) though it spares
(B) where it spares
(C) despite sparing
(D) when sparing
(E) while sparing
Choice A: Although the conjunction "though" does show contrast, it does not convey the exact intended meaning that the disease infects some people in an infected area and at the same time spares others. Moreover, in Option A, the pronoun "it" is used to refer to two different nouns, “Listeria bacterium” and “listeriosis”. Thus, Option A is incorrect.
Choice B: The use of the word "where" fails to bring out the intended contrast, as it refers to a specific place, altering the intended meaning of the sentence. Moreover, Option B shares the pronoun ambiguity, regarding "it", that Option A displays.
Choice C: The use of the word "despite" fails to bring out the intended contrast. Thus, Option C is not a good answer choice.
Choice D: The use of the word "when" fails to bring out the intended contrast, as it refers to a specific point in time, altering the intended meaning of the sentence. Thus, Option D is not a good answer choice.
Choice E: Answer E uses the conjunction "while"; this conjunction conveys a sense of concurrence. In doing so, this answer choice successfully conveys the intended meaning of the sentence. Thus, Option E is correct.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team