Over the past decade, researchers studying the brains of sparrows have

Question

Over the past decade, researchers studying the brains of sparrows have discovered that each sex uses what is called  their sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then using them to find  mates, similar to how humans use vocal sounds to communicate.

A. their sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then using them to find

B. their sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then use it for finding

C. their sound control system for converting sound waves to social messages and then using them for finding

D. its sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then uses them to find

E. its sound control system for converting sound waves to social messages and then using it for finding

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sj296 · Answer

Over the past decade, researchers studying the brains of sparrows have discovered that each sex uses what is called  their sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then using them to find  mates, similar to how humans use vocal sounds to communicate.

A.  their  sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then  using  them to find...............their refers to - 'each sex' which is singular. Also, using is not parallel with uses.

B.  their  sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then use  it  for finding..........their refers to singular noun. Also, 'it' refers to plural messages.

C.  their  sound control system  for converting sound  waves to social messages and then  using  them for finding.............................their refers to singular noun. for converting distorts the meaning. using is not parallel to uses.

D.  its  sound control system  to convert  sound waves to social messages and then  uses them  to find...............seems correct option.

E. its sound control system  for converting sound  waves to social messages and then  using  it for finding..................for converting distorts the meaning. Using is not parallel with uses.

OA should be D

Shivanibh25 · Answer

I know it should be D but I didn't get that why it uses "them" ??

sj296 · Answer

them is referring to Sound waves (plural).

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

Shivanibh25

The only way to make IT work would be to have it refer back to "sound control system." But once the message is produced, the system's job is done. It's the messages themselves (or the sounds--they are really the same thing) that the sparrows use to find mates.

Bunuel · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

This problem is filled with pronoun choices, so focus your attention there. At the start of each answer, you have a choice between “their” and “its.” Carefully go back to find the proper antecedent – in this case it is “each sex” so it should be: “each sex uses…its sound control system”. From this error you can eliminate (A), (B), and (C).

In choosing between (D) and (E), there are several diction choices (“to convert” vs” for converting” and “to find” vs. “for finding”) but you should look for a more concrete decision point, such as “it” vs. “them” or “uses” vs. “using”. The pronoun choice of “it” vs. “them” is confusing until you carefully consider the meaning in the sentence: “each sex uses its sound control system to convert sound waves to social messages and then uses the social messages (them) to find mates…” If you missed this and thought that “it” referred back to “sound control system” you can also see that “using” is incorrect. In (E), with the use of the gerund “using” instead of the active verb “uses”, this structure must go back with other gerund “converting” but this meaning is illogical: “each sex uses its sound control system for converting…and then using IT (the sound control system?)”. The sound control system cannot use itself for doing something!  Only (D) uses the proper pronouns and creates a logical meaning with the use of a separate active verb “uses.”

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