Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs

Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.


(A)
examples can be presented by using "such as" but not by using "like". ELIMINATED

(B)
there are only two sports referred here. So both should be used rather than all. Also, examples can be presented by using "such as" but not by using "like" ELIMINATED

(C)
CORRECT

(D)
same error as in choice B. ELIMINATED

(E)
"both" is a plural and it should take "involve". ELIMINATED

OPTION: C

1. "Both" takes plural verb, so eliminate E.

2. "Like" is used to show similarity and "Such as" is used to show examples --- Eliminate A, B, and D as we need "such as" and not "like" in the last modifier.

3. We are comparing two teams, so we require "both" and not "all". Another reason to eliminate B and D.


(A) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.

(B) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that all involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.

(C) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

(D) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that all involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

(E) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involves downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

Hence (C)

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

C. Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

Because the sentence makes a comparison between only two sports, both is proper and all is improper. Eliminate Choices (B) and (D). Choice (E) contains a subject/verb agreement problem: the plural noun both shouldn’t be paired with the singular verb involves. The difference between Choices (A) and (C) is the use of “like” or “such as.” Generally, you use like to compare nouns rather than to introduce examples. So the comma before like in Choice (A) is a big clue that it’s used incorrectly. The comma sets up examples. Therefore, Choice (C) is a better option than Choice (A).

Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.


(A) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.

(B) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that all involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns but it also combines elements from other sports, like soccer and hurling.

(C) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

(D) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that all involve downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

(E) Rugby is somewhat like American football in that both involves downs, tackles, and touchdowns, but it also combines elements from other sports, such as soccer and hurling.

When giving examples we have to use such as, so A and B are wrong. all involve is idiomatically wrong expression. Both involve is correct subject verb agreement. So, and is C.