While animals as different as birds of prey and praying mantises

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



THE PROMPT

• Correct comparisons
The sentence should compare either
(1) animals with animals (animals of many different kinds) with the new anglerfish, or
(2) a gender-determined biological structure with a form of sexual dimorphism

• Meaning?
→ Although many types of animals exhibit a gender-determined biological structure, the new anglerfish and some related species exhibit a a form of sexual dimorphism that is particularly extreme.
→ Very simply rephrased: Although many types of animals display gender-based physical differences, the new anglerfish displays gender-based physical differences that are especially extreme.

• Meaning, Part Two
→ Suppose that you have no idea what sexual dimorphism is.
Not to worry.
You know that animals as different as birds of prey and praying mantises and anglerfish and some related species [of anglerfish] are related and are being compared. Most animals exhibit ABC, whereas anglerfish and some related species exhibit XYZ [or extreme ABC].
(Yes. I know that a praying mantis is not an animal per se. Let it go.)

From the words gender-determined and sexual, you should at least vaguely understand that "gender-determined biological structure" and "form of sexual dimorphism" are connected and thus that the gender-related thing and the sexual dimorphism thing should be compared.

Sexual dimorphism refers to the fact that males and females of the same species display different characteristics that go beyond different reproductive organs.
A peacock has bright tail feathers. A peahen does not.
Apparently, male anglerfish are much smaller than female anglerfish.

THE OPTIONS


• Comparison is not parallel
→ The introductory (dependent) clause begins with animals, so the main clause should also begin with the new anglerfish—and not with the form of sexual dimorphism, which breaks the parallel structure.
ELIMINATE A

• comma splice
Two independent clauses (ICs) cannot be "stuck together" by nothing more than a comma.
IC#1: Animals such as birds of prey and praying mantises exhibit a gender-determined biological structure.
IC #2: The form of sexual dimorphism that is found among the new anglerfish and some related species is particularly extreme.
→ if we use a comma between two ICs, it should be followed by a conjunction such as and, but, or so

• Comparison is not parallel
→ Same problem as that in option A: animals are compared with a form of sexual dimorphism
ELIMINATE B


• I do not see any errors
• The sentence compares animals with the new anglerfish
KEEP


• Comparison is not parallel
This sentence illogically compares a form of sexual dimorphism with animals that exhibit something.
ELIIMINATE D


• THAN requires a comparative form: greater than, less than, smaller than, more than, etc.
→ no such comparative form exists.

• the comparison is probably not parallel
→ the word than actually makes this sentence nonsensical, but if we were to try to sort out the meaning, we would probably concluded that new anglerfish are incorrectly compared with the gender-determined biological structure.
ELIMINATE E

The correct answer is C.

COMMENTS

I think I can give up writing OEs and just let most of you all take over.

In all seriousness, for the most part, these answers are outstanding.
Very nice work.