ETS does not mention such reference ambiguity. I think choice C, D use A consumer to eliminate the reference ambiguity, an effectiveness issue.
As also, ETS mention that the passive voice appearing to be awkard and wordy even if the agent for verb is clearly stated.
To be discussed...
Reference ambiguity, please refer to
167. Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape’s
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape’s
(D) The Neanderthal’s vocal tracts resembled the apes’(B)
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
The sentence requires a subject appropriate to both members of a compound predicate, the second member being and so were probably without language. B, the best choice, logically uses Neanderthals as the subject. Choice A also uses this subject, but the plural pronoun those does not agree with its singular antecedent, a vocal tract. C, D, and E present the inappropriate subject vocal tracts, which cannot logically govern the second member of the predicate (i.e., vocal tracts cannot be said to be without language). Moreover, it is better to use the singular in referring to an anatomical feature common to an entire species; C, D, and E use the plural vocal tracts. D compounds the problem by giving multiple vocal tracts to one Neanderthal.
B use the singular possessive to eliminate the reference ambiguity of "they" |