Unlike physical sports such as tennis, lack of practice does not quick

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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

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 lack of practice in mind sports such as chess is unlike lack of practice in physical sports such as tennis, in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparisons + Grammatical Constructions

• A comparison must always be made between similar things.
• Information that is vital to the core meaning of the sentence cannot be placed between two commas.

A: This answer choice incorrectly compares "physical sports" to "lack of practice", illogically implying that a lack of practice is unlike physical sports in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance in mind sports; the intended meaning is that lack of practice in mind sports is unlike lack of practice in physical sports, in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.

B: This answer choice incorrectly compares "physical sports" to "lack of practice", illogically implying that a lack of practice is unlike physical sports in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance in mind sports; the intended meaning is that lack of practice in mind sports is unlike lack of practice in physical sports, in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.

C: This answer choice incorrectly compares "the lack of practice in physical sports" to "one's performance in mind sports", illogically implying that one's performance in mind sports is unlike the lack of practice in physical sports, in that it does not deteriorate quickly; the intended meaning is that lack of practice in mind sports is unlike lack of practice in physical sports, in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.

D: Correct This answer choice correctly compares "lack of practice in physical sports" with "lack of practice in mind sports", conveying the intended meaning of the sentence - that lack of practice in mind sports is unlike lack of practice in physical sports, in that it does not quickly deteriorate one's performance. Further, Option D avoids the grammatical construction error seen in Option E, as it places no information between commas.

E: This answer choice incorrectly includes information vital to the core meaning of the sentence -- that a lack of practice in mind sports is unlike the lack of practice in physical sports, between two commas; please remember, information that is vital to the core meaning of the sentence cannot be placed between two commas.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Extra Information Between two Commas", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team