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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes

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banerjeea_98
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 23 Oct 2019, 06:02
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

(A) is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain
(B) is different than any terrestrial lava's, containing
(C) is different from that of any terrestrial lava; they contain
(D) differs from any terrestrial lava in containing
(E) differs from that of any terrestrial lava's, containing

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SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
August 1978
Volume 239, Issue 2

In widely scattered locations around the world small glassy pebbles of curious surface configuration and distinctive composition are found, often in vast "strewn fields" that stretch across land masses and, on the evidence of cores drilled from the deep-sea floor. across intervening seas and oceans. These tektites. as they are called from the Greek word tektos, meaning molten, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition is different from that of any terrestrial lava and they contain far less water and none of obsidian's characteristic microcrystals. And, as the Austrian mineralogist Josef Mayer pointed out in 1787, no one has ever found the Mutterstein. or mother lode, of a field of tektites. They cannot, therefore. be the product of terrestrial volcanism.

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C

Originally posted by banerjeea_98 on 26 Apr 2005, 12:38.
Last edited by Bunuel on 23 Oct 2019, 06:02, edited 4 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   28 Jun 2019, 00:33
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

(A) is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain- idiom issue- different THAN is incorrect. To convey that X and Y are different, we say that X is different FROM Y; comparison issue- incorrectly compare chemical composition to lava
(B) is different than any terrestrial lava's, containing- idiom issue -same as A;
COMMA + VERBing generally refers to the subject of the preceding clause. Thus, in B and E, containing refers to 'composition', implying that the COMPOSITION is containing far less water than obsidian. The composition itself does not CONTAIN far less water; the TEKTITES do. It is illogical to compare composition to obsidian. Eliminate B and E.
(C) is different from that of any terrestrial lava; they contain- Correct
(D) differs from any terrestrial lava in containing- comparison issue - incorrectly compare chemical composition to lava
(E) differs from that of any terrestrial lava's, containing- that of and lava's usage is redundant

Answer C
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   01 May 2005, 18:19
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either you have the "possesive form" or you use the construction "that of", but not both.

taking your example-

My car is faster than Jane's ----> - CORRECT

My car is faster than that of Jane ----> - CORRECT

My car is faster than that of Jane's ----> INCORRECT
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   29 Apr 2005, 04:20
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E says as if the chemical composition contains far less water-------

but it is tektites, which contains far less water-----.

thats why E is wrong and C correct.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   23 Sep 2020, 22:39
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

(A) is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain (wrong comparison- chemical composition to terrestrial lava)
(B) is different than any terrestrial lava's, containing (containing refers to lava's chemical composition, however it should refer to Tektites)
(C) is different from that of any terrestrial lava; they contain
(D) differs from any terrestrial lava in containing (wrong comparison- chemical composition to terrestrial lava)
(E) differs from that of any terrestrial lava's, containing (double possessive)
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2021, 06:35
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gamebredfighter wrote:
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Could u clarify please why E is wrong.
Is it because "(E) differs from that of any terrestrial lava's, containing" chemical composition is stated once with the use of "that" and then again with the possessive "terrestrial lava's" ?
Thanks in advance

Yes, the use of the possessive "lava's" is redundant, because "that of" has already been used.

Also, notice that chemical composition would not contain water. So, in saying "chemical composition differs ... containing far less water," the (E) version conveys a nonsensical meaning.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   26 Apr 2005, 13:54
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C)...the right idiom is "different from". A) and B) are out. D) is out because it compares chemical composition to the lava. E) is out because it is not clear if "containing" refers to "lava" or to "composition".
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2005, 12:07
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banerjeea_98 wrote:
OA is "C"


A, B eliminated because of "different from".....

D bad comparison.

Both C and E seen right.

I chose C. But i aint sure what is wrong with E.

IC = Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s

Phrase [Participle modifying Subject Teckites] = containing far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

IC, Phrase

Any explain what is wrong with E???
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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   04 Nov 2020, 12:52
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Alokit wrote:
Why “is “ in option c is preferred?

Posted from my mobile device

good question.
...but their chemical composition is different from that of any terrestrial lava; they contain......

I am guessing you thought <their> is plural, therefore plural verb <are> should be used. However, here the singular noun <chemical composition> is paired with the singular verb <is>. Therefore 'is' is used in this sentence.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   23 Dec 2020, 14:25
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GMATNinja

I do not get why option B is incorrect, than any terrestrial lava's conveys the same idea as that of any terrestrial lava.

Another split is verb-ing modifier, but I see no problem there also
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   28 Dec 2020, 06:32
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dato10kokli wrote:
GMATNinja

I do not get why option B is incorrect, than any terrestrial lava's conveys the same idea as that of any terrestrial lava.

Another split is verb-ing modifier, but I see no problem there also


Hi

In order to denote difference, the correct idiomatic expression is "X is different from Y". Option (B) says "...is different than any terrestrial lava's...", which is incorrect.

Hope this clarifies.

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Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   18 Jun 2022, 11:05
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MartyTargetTestPrep wrote:
Jezza wrote:
well I picked C and obviously C is just the best we can have, but don't we need "other"? apparenly Tektites is one of the otherworldly lava...

Exactly. We don't need "other" because tektites are not terrestrial (of the Earth). They are from the moon.


Hi Marty, that's exactly what I was wondering, so much thx for the clarification.

It's one of those words that keep bothering me, I sometimes remember "extra-terrestrial" as something from earth and then "terrestrial" equals "from outside of earth", yea now I know I was almost wrong again!!!
So if someone doesn't know what "terrestrial" means, that poor guy will not be able to solve this question with certainty, he/she will just have the same question that I had...

Though all other options apart from C are just hot garbage in the basic mechanic (you don't compare component of an object with another object).
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   29 Jun 2023, 02:54
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waytowharton wrote:
KarishmaB ExpertsGlobal5

Could you please explain role of 'and none of its characteristic microcrystals.' in the sentence? What is it parallel to?



Take another example:

My basket is different from yours; it contains fewer apples and no oranges.

Both, apples and oranges are objects of the verb 'contains'.

This is the same as:

My basket is different from yours; it contains fewer apples and none of the oranges. (if we know the oranges we are talking about)
This is equivalent to 'not one of the oranges'
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   26 Apr 2005, 17:55
banerjeea_98 wrote:
Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.
(A) is different than any terrestrial lava; they contain
(B) is different than any terrestrial lava’s, containing
(C) is different from that of any terrestrial lava; they contain
(D) differs from any terrestrial lava in containing
(E) differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s, containing


I think C is flawed too ..."They" looks suspicious....I would go with D
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   26 Apr 2005, 20:16
It is (C) for Parallelism.

(D): "in containing far less water than obsidian does .." : wrong : "does" does not have any verb to refer.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   29 Apr 2005, 14:41
dipaksingh wrote:
E says as if the chemical composition contains far less water-------

but it is tektites, which contains far less water-----.

thats why E is wrong and C correct.


To me here is what E says:

Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian, but their chemical composition differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s, containing far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

the phrase in green is an absolute phrase modifying the subject Tektities. Absolute phrases dont have to modify the noun right next to it. It could modify a) a subject of the previous clause b) object of a previous clause or c) the entire clause.

Any solid explanations why?
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   29 Apr 2005, 20:41
gmataquaguy,

"their chemical composition differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s, containing far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals". --- this is a independent clause joined to another independent clause with the help of a coordinating conjunction "but".

the other I.clause is " Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian"

again the possesive form (lava's) is wrong.

E compares "chemical composition of tektitis" with "chemical composition of lava's containing far less water----" isn't it wrong.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   01 May 2005, 17:10
dipaksingh wrote:
gmataquaguy,

"their chemical composition differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s, containing far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals". --- this is a independent clause joined to another independent clause with the help of a coordinating conjunction "but".

the other I.clause is " Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes, are much like the volcanic glass obsidian"

again the possesive form (lava's) is wrong.

E compares "chemical composition of tektitis" with "chemical composition of lava's containing far less water----" isn't it wrong.


I dont agree with your comparison. Here is why:

Here is what the IC after but says in E.

their [Tekkites] chemical composition differs from that of any terrestrial lava’s.
Step1:
The possessive form of lava is correct because enables comparison between Teckites's chemical composition and lava's.

This statement is analogous to

My car is faster than Jane's ----> Here Jane's = Jane's care [implicit].

Step2:

IC, containing far less water than obsidian does and none of its characteristic microcrystals.

I'm saying that "containing....." isnt a participle phrase. Its an absolute phrase that modifies the subject teckites.

Please read absolute phrases from [https://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#participial] and https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1540

and you will see why i'm asking these questions.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   01 May 2005, 19:54
dipaksingh wrote:
either you have the "possesive form" or you use the construction "that of", but not both.

taking your example-

My car is faster than Jane's ----> - CORRECT

My car is faster than that of Jane ----> - CORRECT

My car is faster than that of Jane's ----> INCORRECT


Di,
Good Call - i didnt know about this rule!!! Will the OP please confirm that the aphostrophe wasnt a typo. If not then your explanation is good!! Could you point me to some online documentation on the aforementioned rule. Just wanna read it to validate some of my other queries about possesives.....
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink] New post   02 May 2005, 10:17
sorry i dont remember at present any site where you will get this ,but please check "comparision" section on any of the "english usage" sites. most probably you will get it some where.
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Re: Tektites, which may have been propelled to Earth from lunar volcanoes [#permalink]
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