Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
According to the laws of this nation, individuals are minors until they reach the age of eighteen, although this is less in some countries and more in others.
A. although this is less in some countries and more in others
B. but this age is lower in some countries; higher in others
C. although in some countries, it is lower and in others it is higher
D. although it is less than that in some countries and more than that in others
E. but the relevant age is lower in some countries and higher in others
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that in this country, individuals are minors until they reach the age of eighteen, but the age until which individuals remain minors is lower in some countries and higher in others.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Pronouns + Grammatical Construction• If a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.
A:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "this is less in some countries and more in others"; the construction of this clause illogically implies that the
age of eighteen is lower in some countries and higher in others; the intended meaning is that
the age until which individuals remain minors is lower in some countries and higher in others.
B:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "this age"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the
age of eighteen is lower in some countries and higher in others; the intended meaning is that
the age until which individuals remain minors is lower in some countries and higher in others.
2/ Option B incorrectly uses a semicolon to join two elements in a list - the adjective phrases "lower in some countries" and "higher in others"; remember, if a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.
C:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "it is lower and in others, it is higher"; the construction of this clause illogically implies that the
age of eighteen is lower in some countries and higher in others; the intended meaning is that
the age until which individuals remain minors is lower in some countries and higher in others.
D:1/ This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error, as the pronoun "it" lacks a clear and logical reference.
E: Correct.1/ This answer choice uses the clause "the relevant age is lower in some countries and higher in others"; the construction of this clause conveys the intended meaning - that
the age until which individuals remain minors is lower in some countries and higher in others.
2/ Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Option D, as it uses the noun phrase "the relevant age" in place of the pronoun "it".
3/ Option E correctly uses conjunction ("and" in this sentence) to join two elements in a list - the adjective phrases "lower in some countries" and "higher in others".
Hence, E is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team