ThatDudeKnows generis I am a little confused about the reasoning used to reject D. Unlike is used to compare nouns, so how does it matter whether they are followed by a verb or verb-ed modifier?

please help me understand the phrase 'with each having its own sovereign ruler' in A].

I get to see such structure a lot. How to correctly analyze with strong reasoning whether the usage is correct or not.

Please share an example of the same where it is used correctly.

Hi experts,
I'm having a difficult time grappling with how D is wrong when this sentence is 100% correct:
"Unlike the honeybee, the yellow jacket carries a potent venom that can cause intense pain".
after all option D appears to have the reversed structure of that of this sentence. if the modifier "ruled" is the problem, then would a modifier modifying "honeybee" render the sentence incorrect? for example:
Unlike the honeybee filled with venom, the yellow jacket carries a potent venom that can cause intense pain".

The issue with the later part of the (D) version is subtle, and the truth is that we have to assume that there was only one Aztec civilization to say for sure that that part of (D) is incorrect.

The only problem with later part of the (D) version is that "the Aztecs civilization ruled by one supreme leader" uses the restrictive modifier "ruled by one supreme leader."

It doesn't make sense to restrictively modify "the Aztecs civilization" because there was only one Aztec civilization, whereas the use of the restrictive modifier suggests that there was more than one and that the one mentioned by this sentence is the one of them "ruled by a supreme leader."

If the (D) version were worded in the following way, the later part of the (D) version would still use a modifier but make sense.

The Mayan civilization spread over many states with each having its own sovereign ruler, unlike the Aztecs civilization, which was ruled by one supreme leader.

By the way, the part of the (D) version before the comma is not great either because of the use of the wording "with each having ...."

"With" can be used to convey that two things are literally with each other or that something causes something else, and "with" can be used to add detail to an action, as it is in "John stood there with his hands in his pockets." However, "with" cannot be used to simply continue a description as "with" is used in this case.
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