Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only

This question is based on Parallelism, Comparison and Idiomatic Usage.

This question gives us a number of ways to eliminate options:
1. Parallelism – the sentence gives three descriptions of the new species of sparrow, so all three descriptions must be parallel in form. The three descriptions should be as follows: that lives only in cypress groves, that is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and that has coloring….

2. Comparison – if we look at the end of the sentence, we see the phrase “different from all other sparrows". To make the comparison parallel, we must identify what is being contrasted with what – is the coloring being compared to sparrows or is the coloring of the new species of sparrow being compared to the coloring of all other sparrows. The latter is more appropriate.

3. Idiomatic Usage – A vertical scan of the last part of the options shows us the choice between ‘different from’ and ‘different than’. The phrase “different from” is idiomatically appropriate.

Option A lacks parallelism - (A) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from
In this option, the second description is in the form of a participle modifier and the second description is in the form of an adjective clause. As can be seen, the three descriptions are not parallel in structure to each other. To be parallel, all three descriptions must start with the relative pronoun ‘that’ followed by a verb + phrase.
This option also indicates that the comparison is between the coloring of the new species and all other sparrows. So, Option A can be eliminated.

In Option C, the error of comparison is repeated. Furthermore, this option also lacks parallelism. In this option, it is the first description that is in the form of a participle phrase, but the last description is not in the same form. So, Option C can also be eliminated.

Option D is almost identical to Option A, except that the error of comparison has been corrected in the option. However, the lack of parallelism is still present in this option. So, Option D can also be eliminated.

In Option E, the three descriptions are parallel in form to each other. However, this option contains an idiomatic error. The phrase “different than” is idiomatically inappropriate.

(B) that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of – In this option, the three descriptions are parallel in structure. The relative pronoun ‘that’ is not repeated but has been used once at the beginning. Thus, parallelism is maintained.
This option also contains the logical comparison between the coloring of the new species of sparrow and that of all other sparrows.
Therefore, B is the most appropriate option.

Jayanthi Kumar.

My ans is B.
To make comparison parallel (coloring VS all other sparrows' coloring)--> require "that of"--> eliminate A,C,E
In D, almost wholly dependent on.. , could modify the cypress grove.--> which is not the intended meaning.
Plus, B maintains //ism--> 1. lives,2. is almost wholly independent, and 3. has coloring

My take is B as well. That lives..., is..., and has... makes everything comma separated parallel. All other answer options have one or the other extra issue such as tense matching or improper pronoun referencing.

can you please explain a bit more on why B is correct?

I couldn't understand the comma before is (,is almost wholly) .. it didn't make sense to me but looks like this option is correct since you all picked this choice.

if you can, please break down the option B to explain the independent clause(s), lists ..
( the 'is' connected to which subject?)

thanks.

You, my friend, have impressed me with your thirst for knowledge. As your best-friend from now on, I'll tell you the secret, which many a wise men have devised over generations, that, which is the soul of the world's most popular language, that, which when known will help you speak like me. Of course, I am stooping low with my vocabs right now so you could comprehend me easily. Anyways, the secret is that I always break the sentence into logical parts to sound sensible.

Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow | that lives only in cypress groves, | is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, | and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.

So as you read, we are still discussing about the new species of sparrow in each clause after every comma, which is the subject of the entire sentence. All parts of the sentence when put together should make a complete sense, the intent should be crisp, clear and convincingly conveyable.

How about that awesome thing you just learnt - hi five!!!!!

The first notable split here is the comparison between the coloring of the sparrow and that of other sparrows. 'That Of' is important here, so choices A, C, E are eliminated - They compare the color of the sparrow too other sparrows

Between B & D - B maintains the parallelism, by using is almost wholly, where as D is not parallel.

Thus correct choice is B

two 3-2 splits here,

1st 3-2 split is using THAT and WITHOUT THAT. 2nd 3-2 split is using IS and WITHOUT IS.

THAT and IS are necessary is this sentence.. Read the sentence in 2 ways here.. 1st without that clause..

Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow IS almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of all other sparrows.

this sentence makes sense here than a sentence without "IS" does..

now clause after THAT introduces some vital info that makes THAT mandatory... Only B has both..

For an extra error, the last comparison is made between colouring and sparrows, which is wrong.. It has to be made between colours of sparrows.. so we need "has coloring completely different from that of"

Hello

For Option D, "that lives ....groves" acts as an essential modifier for the noun sparrow and hence placed near it while the phrase starting with almost...trees acts as a non essential modifier for sparrow again. After that a ",and" format joins the two clauses together - How is this interpretation incorrect <Given that the sentence still conveys meaning>

Could you please throw some light on this.

Thank you

The parallelism is among the verbs "lives", "is" ,and "has". Hence, we have only one choice which is "B". In "D" The verbs are missing in the second and third items.

hi,
why is D wrong?

D. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of...

now three parts, which are supposedly parallel are:-
i)that lives only in cypress groves
ii) almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees
iii) whose coloring is completely different from that of....

now ii) could easily be modifying the portion in i)...
as far as parallelism issue is concerned the sentence should be correct...
a species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and a species of sparrow whose coloring is completely different from that of...
that can easily be parallel to whose..

The parallelism is among the three verbs "lives", "is" and "has" - which is there only in one answer choice B. In "D" the parallelism among the following verbs is missing. For D to be correct, it should have been something like i) that lives only in cypress groves ii) who is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees iii) who has coloring completely different from that of....

Hope this helps.

Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.[/quote]


let's understand the meaning first.
Researches have discovered a new species of sparrow
this new species:
a) lives only in cypress groves
b) is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine "that" correctly modifies certain type. this certain type of vine grows on cypress trees.
c) has color completely different from the colors of other sparrows.

let's do the error analysis:
"almost wholly".. looks like a modifier, but what actually it modifies? the fact that it lives in the cypress groves makes it wholly dependent? no? the fact that its colors are different from those colors of other sparrows? no. thus incorrect.
comparison error - compares colors with sparrows. incorrect.

A. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from
incorrect as mentioned.

B. that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of
looks good, that lives, "that" is already implied so "is almost.." is correct. and perfectly connects the list. comparison error now removed. looks like a good candidate for correct answer.

C. living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from
is almost now looks like 2 IC clauses are not properly connected. in addition, who is almost wholly dependent? who is the subject?
living acts as an ing modifier, which modifies the closest noun new species. this is not incorrect, but the whole sentence now is not structurally correct. moreover, the comparison error is present.

D. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of
same modifier error as in A.

E. living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than
same errors as in C.
depending is an ing modifier that modifies the whole clause "researchers have discovered a new species". this is illogical as it does not present reasoning nor result of the clause.
comparison error is still present.

B looks to be the correct answer.

All other sparrows include umpteen numbers of species of sparrows with as many shades of hues and colors. Is the demonstrative pronoun ‘that’ relevant to call them in a singular vein in B and D than in a plural vein ‘those'?

tough call b/w B and D.

Both seem correct to me.

Can answer choices be so close in GMAT so that you can't distinguish between them.

B and D have very different structures.

Structure of B:

Researchers discovered a new species that lives..., is almost wholly dependent....., and has coloring.....

The object ("new species") of the main sentence has only one relative clause modifier (underlined) starting with "that". Within this modifier there are three parallel verbs "lives", "is" and "has" (marked in three different colors).

Structure of D:
Researchers discovered a new species that lives..., almost wholly dependent..., and whose coloring.....

The object ("new species") of the main sentence has three modifiers (marked in different colors) : "that lives..." (relative clause modifier), "almost wholly independent..." ( adjectival phrase modifier) and "whose coloring..." (relative clause modifier).

As you see, the three modifiers should be parallel, i.e. they should have the same structure. However the second one is adjectival phrase whereas the other two are relative clauses. Hence D is incorrect.

The idiom "different than" is wrong, correct form is "different from". Thus E is wrong.

If you could elaborate why B seems awkward, then we may discuss further on the specific issue.

Thank you so much, sayantanc2k. I had completely ignored the idiom structure there.

However, I have another question.
If option E had the correct idiom (different 'from'), then would that (option) have been correct?