请教OG11－104

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reators.

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear reators

(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting them apart, like nuclear reators

(C) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reators do

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors

(E) and merge the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart

i can understand why the correct choice is C, but the explaination of (B) confuse me.

(B) Although like can grammatically be followed by a noun phrase such as nuclear reactors, here the basis of comparison is unclear , and the usage is in correct

i still do not know why can not use like here?  Please help . Thanks