In this problem, there are two main issues:
1. AB / CDE
plural / singular
The non-underlined portion refers to "its mouthparts", telling us that beetle must be singular. Eliminate A and B.
2. C / D / E
and pulls / , pulling / and it pulls
Feeding is the main action. Pulling fat and muscle tissue is part of the feeding process. The "ing" form of pulling in D makes this clear (we read everything after the comma as a modifier of the main action). In C and E, the conjunction plus main verb construction (and pulls or and it pulls) makes it sound like pulling is a separate action from feeding. This is incorrect. Hence C and E are wrong.
here's more about the comma + -ing modifier:
the "comma + ing" modifier should only be used when:
(A)
it MODIFIES THE ENTIRE ACTION of the preceding clause, and it APPLIES TO THE SUBJECT of that clause;
AND
(B)
one of the following is true:
(1) the "ing" action is SIMULTANEOUS with the main action;
- i ran down the sidewalk, flapping my arms wildly
(2) the "ing" action is a DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of the main action.
- i got a 100 on the most recent exam, bringing my average up to 91
another example:
joe ran down the sidewalk, flailing his arms.
--> correct (simultaneous)
my cousin took extra classes every semester in college, graduating in three years.
--> correct, because the "ing" is an actual consequence of the first action.
my cousin ate frozen food every day in college, graduating in three years.
--> incorrect, because there is no relationship (in particular, the second thing is not a consequence of the first thing, and isn't simultaneous either)
Source :
Manhattan GMatgmatprav wrote:
OA is definitely not A. Between D & E.
Shouldn't the parallelism be maintained between feed & pull? Not decaying and pulling? Pulling is done by the beetles right? and flesh is decaying. So D should be incorrect as well. Also, E is wrong because it is breaking parallelism by adding "it"
Can someone please explain this?