Researchers have found that large fish are most likely to contain

Question

Researchers have found that large fish  are most likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish.

(A) are most likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish
(B) are more likely to contain high levels of mercury compared to small fish
(C) are more likely than small fish to contain high levels of mercury
(D) compared with small fish most likely contain high levels of mercury
(E) more likely contain higher levels of mercury than in small fish

buan15 · Answer

We need " than " after more. So B, E are ruled out.
In option A mercury is compared with small fish, hence it is incorrect.
Sentence construction is awkward in Option D.

Only in option C proper comparison has been made, making it the right answer choice.

Kinshook · Answer

Researchers have found that large fish  are most likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish.

(A) are most likely to contain high levels of mercury  than small fish 
(B) are more likely to contain high levels of mercury  compared to  small fish
(C) are more likely than small fish to contain high levels of mercury
(D) compared with small fish  most  likely contain high levels of mercury
(E) more likely contain higher levels of mercury than  in  small fish

IMO C

AndrewN · Answer

Interestingly enough,  buan15 , you singled out the two answer choices that also contain an incorrect usage of a superlative (a comparison ending in -st) when a comparative (a comparison ending in -er, typically, although -re (as in  more ) appears sometimes) would be appropriate instead. It is incorrect to compare  two  sizes of fish and say that one is  most likely  to contain anything over the other. It should be  more likely  instead. Choices (A) and (D) are easy eliminations. Also, choice (E) does preserve a  more... than  construct, it just does so in a manner that is incorrect. The word  contain  should carry over to both types of fish, so  in  is inappropriate at the end (i.e. Large fish contain more of something than do small fish).

Please do not misunderstand me. I agree with your assessment on the whole. I just wanted to fill in any onlookers on some of the details.

- Andrew

shiva3415 · Answer

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHATS WRONG WITH OPTION B?

SahilHJain · Answer

When you’re comparing items, you need to notice if you’re comparing two things or more than two things.

When you compare two items, you’re using what’s called a comparative, so you use “more” before the adjective or the suffix “-er” on the end of it. You can remember that comparatives are for two things because “comparative” has the sound “pair” in it and a pair is always two things. It's not spelt like “pair” but it sounds like pair.

When you compare three or more items, you use superlatives “most” or the suffix “-est.” You can remember that superlatives are for more than two things because “superlative” has the word “super” in it and when you want a whole bunch of something, you supersize it.

(A) are  most  likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish - used superlative while comparing only 2 things
(B) are more likely to contain high  levels of mercury compared to small fish  - Comparision error, compared levels of mercury with small fish
(C) are more likely than small fish to contain high levels of mercury -  correct option 
(D) compared with small fish  most  likely contain high levels of mercury - used superlative while comparing only 2 things
(E)  more  likely contain  higher  levels of mercury than in small fish  - don't need 2 comparative

jaisonsunny77 · Answer

Researchers have found that large fish  are most likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish.  
 
(A) are most likely to contain high levels of mercury than small fish  -  when drawing a comparison between two terms, we need to use the comparative word ''more'', not the superlative word ''most''.   
(B) are more likely to contain high levels of mercury compared to small fish  -  has a comparison error: (B) draws a comparison between ''high levels of mercury'' and ''small fish''.  
(C) are more likely than small fish to contain high levels of mercury - has no error. Hence,    (C) is the right answer choice.     
(D) compared with small fish most likely contain high levels of mercury  -  has the same error as described in (A).  
 (E) more likely contain higher levels of mercury than in small fish  -  has a comparison error: "higher levels'' is being compared to a prepositional phrase ''in small fish''.

buan15 · Answer

Thanks a ton for your suggestion. There is no point of misunderstanding & I realized what you meant. Approaching in the way you have mentioned would have saved 30 seconds .

gaurav2m · Answer

isn't 'are' the verb for large fish?
How come plural verb can be used for singular subject large fish?

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  gaurav2m .  Fish  is one of those words, like  moose  or  deer , that can be singular or plural, and you have to rely on contextual clues to tell which verb agreement is necessary. For the singular to work in the sentence at hand, we would need an article ahead of  large fish , as in,  Researchers have found that  a  large fish...

I hope that helps. If you have further questions about the matter, feel free to ask.

- Andrew

gaurav2m · Answer

Thanks Mate

it helped

PoojanB · Answer

Hi, Comparative term more...requires than in the sentence. which is missing in B.

Hope this helps

Researchers have found that large fish are most likely to contain

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Researchers have found that large fish are most likely to contain

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