A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic mak

Question

A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic makeup  and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature  and salinity.

(A) and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature

(B) and also definite environmental needs, like the temperature of one specific lake

(C) but also definite environmental needs, such as for the temperature of one specific lake

(D) but also definite environmental needs, like one specific lake’s temperature

(E) but also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature

gmat_crack · Answer

I think its between 4 & 5. 
In four "like" is used to compare "definite environmental needs" and "lake's temperature and saliny", which I believe is not the intended meaning.
So I'll vote for 5.

selene · Answer

^ 5 ^

 A catfish passes on to its offspring  not only a particular genetic makeup but also definite environmental needs, such as  for one specific lakeâ€™s temperature and salinity.  

>> "not only...but also" or "not only..but..as well" so 1 and 2 are out

>> we need "for" to have a reasonable meaning so 4 is out. it sounds as if the lake passes on as well

>> in 3 " the temperature of one specific lake and salinity" is not ||

gmatkrishna · Answer

5

such as is apt here in this context

"Strictly, such as precedes an example that represents a larger
subject, whereas like indicates that two subjects are comparable.
Steve has recordings of many great saxophonists such as Ben Webster
and Lee Konitz. Steve wants to be a great jazz saxophonist like
Ben Webster and Lee Konitz." Nobody would use "such as" in the
second sentence; the disputed usage is "like" in the first sentence.

https://www.alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxlike00.html

b14kumar · Answer

IMO it is 5.

- Not only....but also structure
- A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic makeup but also  definite environmental needs , such as  for one specific lakeâ€™s  temperature  and  salinity  

Regards,
Brajesh

SunShine · Answer

E.

What is the difference between the two:

Environmental needs... for the temperature of one specific lake   and salinity 
 Environmental needs .... for one specific lakeâ€™s temperature   and salinity

vipin7um · Answer

I'd go for choice 5 because it is the best available choice. But I think even 5 is not completely correct. 

 but also definite environmental needs, such as for  one specific lakeâ€™s temperature  

gives the impression that catfish passes the genetic makeup for the temp of one specific lake, say a lake in Alaska! (rather than a specific temperature of the lake and specific level of salinity of the lake).

Any thoughts?

- Vipin

antiant · Answer

E. 

What is the difference between the two: 

Environmental needs... for the temperature of one specific lake and salinity 

  Here, it talks about the temperature of the lake but salinity has no subject. 

Environmental needs .... for one specific lakeâ€™s temperature and salinity 
  It talks about the Temperature and Salinity of the same lake. 

This is the perfect explanation. If there is not only, but also should be followed. So the answers are C and E. However, as explained above, salinity in C has no subject. E is the correct answer

shantog · Answer

Remember this:

This sentence has two things to focus on. 

 Idiomatic Structure 

not only... but... (correct)
not only.... and... (incorrect)

eliminate A and B

 Such as ... and Like 

 Such as...  refers can refers to things that are not nouns or pronouns. It can provide examples of analagous situations. 

 Like...  refers to nouns and pronouns. It provides a example of what is being compared.

In this situation, "such as" provides examples of the environmental needs for catfish.

If you use "like" in this scenario, the temperature of one lake is an example of the environmental needs of the catfish. This is NOT correct. 

That leaves C and E as possible choices.

Choice C is incorrect since it would need a "for" preceding it, which it does not have. Salinity also does not refer to anything (salinity of what???).

Choice E is the only choice left.

Minheequang · Answer

IMO  E

A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic makeup  and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature  and salinity. 
1. and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature --> unidiomatic
2. and also definite environmental needs, like the temperature of one specific lake --> unidiomatic
3. but also definite environmental needs, such as for the temperature of one specific lake --> because we don't know which lake is and thus which is its temperature, we should omit  the  before  temperature 
4. but also definite environmental needs, like one specific lake’s temperature -->inappropriate comparison:  fish's needs  can't compared to  lake's temperature 
5. but also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature --> best

cheryl3007 · Answer

My explanation:
- Not only ….But also → A, B out
- Such as v.s like (Such as: for example, Like: similar)→ D out
- Remember “and salinity” (the part that is not underlined) → can’t be C ( ...of one specific lake )
- E is the best

crashVcrush · Answer

A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic makeup   and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lakeâ€™s temperature  and salinity.

Mark the terminal non-underlined portion : .......... AND SALINITY

C : Need........................ for the temperature of one specific lake............AND SALINITY : implies = Temp of one sp lake But what about the Salinity ( Is it of the lake / is it of the soil near the lake ? what = ample scope of ambiguity, Salinity in isolation doesn't convey anything .

E : Need........................ for one specific lakeâ€™s temperature..............AND SALINITY : Clearly conveys Lake's Temperature AND Lake's Salinity

Thus E wins over C

Aristocrat · Answer

Hi

Parallelism so but also is ||

option left is 3,4,5

like is used for comparison and such as for introducing example
so we can use such as because sentence is introducing example of needs.
dat narrows down to 3 and 5 
5 conveys proper meaning

qweert · Answer

A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic makeup  and also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature  and salinity.

C) but also definite environmental needs, such as for the temperature of one specific lake -  Parallelism error 
D) but also definite environmental needs, like one specific lake’s temperature -  like one is incorrect 
E) but also definite environmental needs, such as for one specific lake’s temperature -  Correct

Marcab · Answer

its a 3:2 split, as per MGMAT SC.
correct idiom is not only, but also. eliminate A and B.
to introduce examples, "such as" is used, not "like". eliminate D
Its C vs E now.
C is incorrect in that it uses an ambigous expression "temperature of one specific lake and salinity". It implies two meanings.
1)temperature of one specific lake and temperature of salinity. ILLOGICAL
2)temperature of one specific lake and salinity.
This ambiguity is removed in E using a possessive noun.
Hope that helps.
-s

manishasingh · Answer

Error Analysis:

Not Only ---- But Also (not only is always parallel to but also, and not "and").

(A) and (B) - use of "and" falter the answer choices.

(D) use of "like" instead of "such as" falter this answer choice.

Use of "like" vs "such as" - "Like" is used to indicate a comparison while "such as" is used to introduce examples.

Now, comparison is between choice (C) and (E)

In choice (C)- there is a change in the intended meaning.
 - such as for the  temperature of  one specific lake and salinity ( temperature of lake and temperature of salinity )

As per the original statement:
such as for one specific lake’s temperature and and salinity ( temperature and sanity ).

So, correct answer choice is: Option  (E)

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A catfish passes on to its offspring not only a particular genetic mak

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