"based on" and "on the basis of"

l_shasha

187. Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.
(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like

yesterday i issued this question, but how come i can't find it today...

anyway, here is the question again... the answer is B, but why A is not possible? I thought verb "based on" is preferred over noun "on the basis of"?!

Thank you very much!

light

(a)based on的主词变成scientists, scientist was based on the growth rates?

l_shasha

ok... so you mean 介词短语 does not have this problem...

thanks a lot!