Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from

@fozzzy: Answer should be D. The keyword checked here is X rather than Y.
Instead of with, when will be used which leads us to options C, D and E

Option C: taken Rather than consuming -> not parallel
Option D: taken rather than consumed ->parallel ->correct answer
Option E: not a complete sentence

Please let me know if you have any doubts

With C, the sentence would be:

Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest when alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis, rather than consuming it on binges.

The idiom used is clearly ..when alcohol is X rather than Y... So, the structure in C is:

When alcohol is:
a) taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis
rather than
b) consuming it on binges.

In other words:
a) When alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis
rather than
b) When alcohol is consuming it on binges.

Alcohol is consuming it on binges? Clearly incorrect for multiple reasons:
a) Alcohol is not consuming anything; in fact Alcohol is being consumed.
b) it is clearly intended to refer to alcohol. Hence, Alcohol is consuming alcohol on binges is clearly incorrect.

Ans D, X rather than Y is correct. Choice A usage of with is wrong.

Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest with alcohol that is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis than when it is consumed on binges.


(C) when alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis, rather than consuming it : Not parallel, one verb ; another is participle
(D) when alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis rather than consumed


Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest with alcohol that is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis rather than alcohol that isconsumed

The correct usage of Rather than is -

1. rather than + verb
2. rather than + noun

rather than consumed = Correct as Consumed here acts as a Verb

So, The OA (D) is correct in all respect ...

choice A
"than" is comparative word , which needs "er" or "More". there is no such word , so, A is wrong. "greatest +than" is wrong
"than when it is..." needs to be parallel with an adverb showing time in the first clause. there is no such adverb. comparison is wrong
'with+noun+noun modifier " can work ad an adverb showing context , result and reason of the main clause. "with+ alcohol " can not work as adverb or adjective here
choice b
"with taking" can not work. "with+noun+noun modifier " can be an adverb but "with+doing" can not .
"as opposed to' require parallelism. 'its consumption' should be parallel with "taking alcohol" , but it is not. "consuming it' can be parallel with "taking alcohol"
choice c
"rather than" require two similar entities. "rather than consuming" require "doing". there is no such doing in the preceding part.
choice e
is not a sentence.

D is correct. C is not parallel and changes the subject; the participle "taken" needs to be matched with "consumed." The passive voice needs to be maintained as in D: "is taken ... [is] consumed."

I have different question that i need to ask esledge.

In question other than non-underlined part, "suggests that" is used, which is a subjunctive. So should not the subjunctive verb "be" should be used later in the non-underlined part instead of "are"?

Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest with alcohol that is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis than when it is consumed on binges.

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