Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
The atmosphere forms a gaseous envelope around the earth, protecting it from the cold of space, harmful ultraviolet light, and meteors that are large, but not the largest.
A. and meteors that are large, but not the largest
B. and all but the largest meteors
C. and most meteors, except those that are very large
D. and large meteors, excepting the largest
E. and with the exception of the largest, meteors
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the atmosphere protects the Earth from the cold of space, harmful ultraviolet light, and all meteors but the largest.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Parallelism + Awkwardness/Redundancy• All elements in a list must be parallel.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "meteors that are large"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the atmosphere protects Earth specifically from large meteors, but not from the largest; the intended meaning is that the atmosphere protects the Earth from meteors of all sizes but the largest. Further, Option A fails to maintain parallelism among "the cold of space", "harmful ultraviolet light", and "meteors that are large, but not the largest"; please remember, all elements in a list must be parallel. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "meteors that are large, but not the largest", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "all but the largest meteors", conveying the intended meaning - that the atmosphere protects the Earth from meteors of all sizes but the largest. Further, Option B maintains parallelism among "the cold of space", "harmful ultraviolet light", and "all but the largest meteors". Additionally, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "except those that are very large"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the atmosphere protects Earth from meteors but not from those that are
very large; the intended meaning is that the atmosphere protects the Earth from meteors, but not from the
absolute largest meteors. Additionally, Option C uses the needlessly wordy phrase "most meteors, except those that are very large", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "large meteors"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the atmosphere protects Earth specifically from large meteors, but not from the largest; the intended meaning is that the atmosphere protects the Earth from meteors of all sizes but the largest. Additionally, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase "large meteors, excepting the largest", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice ails to maintain parallelism among "the cold of space", "harmful ultraviolet light", and "with the exception of the largest, meteors"; please remember, all elements in a list must be parallel. Additionally, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase "with the exception of the largest", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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