OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONTHE PROMPTQuote:
Neuroscientists of today, unlike 30 years ago, have access to sophisticated instrumentation that has only become possible as a result of recent technological advances.
•
unlike is similar to
like. → unlike is a preposition that must be followed by a noun
→ whatever follows
unlike is being compared to (contrasted with) something else
→ be sure that similar things are being compared
• in this case, we want to compare neuroscientists of today and neuroscientists of 30 years ago
THE OPTIONSQuote:
A)
Neuroscientists of today, unlike
30 years ago,
• on the RHS of
unlike is
30 years ago.
→ on the LHS of the comparison we should be reading about some other time period. We are not doing so. We are reading about neuroscientists [of today].
• the option thus improperly compares
neuroscientists (people) with 30 years ago (a time period)
Eliminate A
Quote:
B) Today’s
neuroscientists, unlike
those of 30 years ago,
• on the RHS of
unlike we have
those, which correctly refers to neuroscientists (today's neuroscientists)
• this option compares contemporary neuroscientists to not-contemporary neuroscientists. The contrast is parallel.
KEEP B
Quote:
C)
Neuroscientists who are conducting research today, unlike
30 years ago,
• on the RHS of unlike is
30 years ago, a time period
• do not be fooled by
today in this option (or in A): the main noun is
neuroscientists. → Once again,
neuroscientists are incorrectly compared with
30 years ago. Not a parallel contrast.
Eliminate C
Quote:
D) Neuroscientists conducting research today, in contrast to 30 years ago, •
in contrast to is a prepositional phrase that means
unlike.• once against,
30 years ago is incorrectly contrasted with
neuroscientists [who are . . . . conducting research today]
Eliminate D
Quote:
E)
Neuroscientists who conduct research today,
differing from
that of 30 years ago,
• prepositional
from must be and is followed by a noun:
that• In this case,
from is followed by
that, but
-- we do not use
that to refer to people
--
that is singular and cannot agree with the plural
neuroscientists, whose pronoun is
those• differing is a participle (a verbING), and probably implies some
continuing difference
Eliminate E
The best answer is B.COMMENTSsaurabh851 ,
hsingh3030 , and
dracarys007 , welcome to SC Butler.
I am always pleased when new people post.
It encourages others to join.
Little communities of people are oases in what can sometimes seem like chaos at the moment.
The veterans and occasional visitors are always welcome, too. You all keep the threads going.
tyildirim92 , I like your reference to
Greta Thunberg.She is passionate, articulate, and feisty.
I happen to like such qualities.
Most of these answers are very good. Kudos to all.