SC-4:Spontaneous Generation

Question

Dear All,

Please help solve this SC question.

4. Proponents of the theory of spontaneous generation argued that simple living organisms  sprang to life not through a recognizable reproductive process but came to life  independently from non living matter.

a.sprang to life not through a recognizable reproductive process but came to life
b.did not spring to life through a recognizable reproductive process and came to life
c.did not spring to life through a recognizable reproductive process but came to life
d.sprang to life not through a recognizable reproductive process but
e.did not spring to life through a recognizable system of reproduction but had come to life

Thanks.

sondenso · Answer

D for me! even though I see D awkawad too! :lol:

raconteur · Answer

D for me. All the others are unnecessarily repetitive "sprang to...came to life" or "did not spring to life....and came to life". Also, "sprang to" is correct because it keeps consistent with "argued". There is also an idiom of some sort being tested here. I think it has something to do with "not through...but (through)..." I could be wrong but it sounds that way to my ear.

lexis · Answer

Only C and D survive. Choose D for shorter one. Further,in C, if can use SPRING TO LIFE, why we need COME TO LIFE ==> C is less concise than D.

D is best.

vd · Answer

D seems to be the only plausible option on this one

what s the OA for this one

hanumayamma · Answer

Idiom not X but Y where X and Y needs to be parallel.

a.sprang to life not through a recognizable reproductive process but came to life  not through   … but came   is not parallel – eliminate it ]
b.did not spring to life through a recognizable reproductive process and came to life  not x but y is correct idiom – eliminate it ]
c.did not spring to life through a recognizable reproductive process but came to life   not spring   … but came   – parallel ok – Hold it ]
d.sprang to life not through a recognizable reproductive process but  not through   … but independently  – not parallel – eliminate it ]
e.did not spring to life through a recognizable system of reproduction but had come to life   not spring   … but had come to   parallel Ok but requires simple past – eliminate it]

Answer: C

Sunny143 · Answer

choice is between C and D. 
I believe the verb tenses are wrong in C, Spring and came...

Will go with D.

x2suresh · Answer

I agree with hanumayamma;

Here correct idiom is not X but Y.

X AND Y must be parallel.

A)

living organisms sprang to life   not   through a recognizable reproductive process      but   came to life independently from non living matter  
X= through a recognizable reproductive process 
Y= came to life independently from non living matter
X and Y are Not parallel
B) "not X and Y" is incorrect
E) X and Y are not parallel ( X in PAST tense VS Y is in past Perfect)

D) X=  through  a recognizable reproductive process 
 Y=  independently  from non living matter
 Not parallel one is started with proposition otherone is adverb.

C) X=   did  not  spring to life  through a recognizable reproductive process  
 Y =  came to life  independently from non living matter

C for me too..

x2suresh · Answer

did not spring || did spring = sprang || came

aviator83 · Answer

the OA is (D). 
" sprang  to life" goes correctly with the tense of the sentence and also with plural "organisms".
IMO - (C) has been eliminated because of wordiness and also because "spring to life" doesn't go with plural "organisms".

x2suresh · Answer

Why not organisms go with "spring to life"

organisims did spring to life (pastense) No issues here
organisms spring to life (simple present) no issue here too.

raconteur · Answer

x2suresh,

Check out the main stem: "Proponents of the theory of spontaneous generation  argued  that simple living organisms..."

"argued" puts this sentence in the simple past tense. Therefore the verb "spring" in the simple past tense is "sprang". You are right to say that Organisms can spring to life. However, that would be correct if the main stem said "proponents  argue  that...organisms spring to life...."

SC-4:Spontaneous Generation

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