Recently discovered gravitational lensing around certain proximate sta

Question

Recently discovered gravitational lensing around certain proximate stars strongly suggests that the nine planets of our solar system are a common phenomenon in the universe  rather than developing incidentally from  a unique galactic phenomenon several billion years ago.

(A) rather than developing incidentally from

(B) rather than a type that developed incidentally from

(C) rather than a type whose development was incidental of

(D) instead of developing incidentally from

(E) instead of a development that was incidental of

souvonik2k · Answer

IMO B.
'incidentally from' is the correct idiom. 
That leaves A, B and D.
'a common phenomenon' cannot be parallel to 'developing' so that leaves answer choice B 'a type'.

ArupRS · Answer

In my opinion, E is the answer.

The comparison is not correct in A and D.

a common phenomenon in the universe rather than developing incidentally from

Now we are left with B, C, and E.
In B and C, the comparison is as below :

a common phenomenon in the universe rather than a type.....- I think this is also not a comparison. Moreover, option B has an error "... that (was)  developed...". 
So this leaves us with only option E. I think the comparison is correct here a phenomenon v/s a development.

SonGoku · Answer

Instead of is for replacement.
rather than is for comparison so we use  rather than 
option B nicely explains by mentioning the type.So B is the winner

sudarshan22 · Answer

+1 for   B  .

(A)  rather than developing  incidentally from

(B)  rather than a type  that developed  incidentally from  -->   Correct , idiom usage "  X rather than Y  ", and conveys intended meaning

(C)  rather than a type   whose development was incidental of

(D)  instead of developing  incidentally from

(E)  instead of a development  that was incidental of

Hence,   B  .

ArupRS · Answer

In option B, "that developed incidentally from...." is it correct? shouldn't be "that was developed....."? 
Please explain.

Bunuel · Answer

MANHATTAN REVIEW OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The first thing you should consider here is whether to use rather or instead. Instead does not have an element of choice in it, merely an element of replacement. You would say, for example: I went instead of Jack. You would also say: He is a weak man rather than a timid man. Because this is not a case of replacement, you need the word ‘rather’. That leaves us with choices A, B and C as possible answers. A correct comparison is required. The planets are a ‘phenomenon... rather then a type’. You are correctly comparing two nouns so A can be eliminated. ‘Incidental of’ is an incorrect structure. ‘Incidental to’ is correct. Therefore only B is eliminates all these errors and is the correct answer.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Recently discovered gravitational lensing around certain proximate sta

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Recently discovered gravitational lensing around certain proximate sta

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