SC Question from MGMAT CAT2

[Vasanth]

Source:An online MGMAT CAT,I took a few days ago.

Antigenic shift refers to the combination of two different strains of influenza; in contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza.
influenza; in contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza
influenza, different than the natural mutation of a single strain, known as antigenic drift
influenza, in contrast to the natural mutation of a single strain, known as antigenic drift
influenza, different than antigenic drift, which refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza
influenza; in contrast to antigenic drift, which refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza

Hi,I have 2 questions:

1)Is "In contrast" Idiomatic,I always thought "In Contrast to" or "In Contrast with" are more idiomatic
2)What makes E a worse option than A?I feel In Contrast to is a very common Idiom even in Technical
writing..Please help me by throwing some light on this issue :)

thanks a lot in advance

[RonPurewal]

Choice E is wrong because the part following the semicolon is a fragment. For a semicolon to be used properly, the parts before and after the semicolon must both be complete sentences in their own right.

"In contrast," as used here, is similar to "On the other hand." It wouldn't make sense to include "to", because that would create a sentence fragment again as in choice E.

"In contrast to" is preferred to "in contrast with," although the latter is not strictly wrong.

[Vasanth]

Hi Ron,

Thanks a lot for the reply..I am yet not
clear as what a "sentence fragment" is?

Can you give me an example..keep hearing
this word here and there.

I was thinking the structure is like this

<Independent Clause>;Dependent Marker,Independent clause

Is this a valid syntax as its believed <Independent Clause>;<<Dependent Clause>?
I guess I missed something..please clarify..thanks a lot again

[Guest79]

I'll give it a shot. Hope it helps: -

Sentence fragment happens when a dependent clause or an incomplete thought is treated as a complete sentence. For ex -

Because, I forgot the exam was today. - is a sentence fragement. While on the other hand
Because, I forgot the exam was today, I didn't study OR
I forgot the exam was today. Both of these constructions are a complete sentence.

In between what is the OA of the question at the start of this thread? Is it A?

Thanks

[Vasanth]

Thanks Ron/Guest

But in that case "influenza; in contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza "

also sounds like a sentence fragment..Am I wrong?

thanks

[Vasanth]

Aside to Guest: yes,the ans is A as i mentioned

Aside to MGMAT Team:Can you please throw some light,you feel is helpful
It will be very helpful to me.

thanks a lot again guys..

[Guest79]

MGMAT team can add more to it, but for the sentence in the hand, it is not a sentence fragment. The sentence does have a subject(antigenic drift) and a verb (refers) that makes it an independent clause.

Again - MGMAT instructors can add more to it.

Thanks

[Vasanth]

Hi MGMAT team,

First,I should reaaly be grateful to you
for your prompt responses..

Can you please expalin as how "In contrast to"
produces a sentence fragment.

thanks a lot for all your co-operation

[RonPurewal]

A simple, yet functional, definition of a sentence fragment is a group of words that lacks either a MAIN SUBJECT or a MAIN VERB/PREDICATE.

That sounds easy, but there are, as usual, complicating factors. For instance, words that are subjects of subordinate clauses - like those introduced by 'although', for instance - can't be MAIN subjects, although they often masquerade as such. Same goes for objects of prepositions.

Here's another example:

"Jimmy was in a bike accident last night. In addition, his goldfish died last week." --> Both of these sentences are fine. They are not fragments. "In addition" is a descriptive phrase that introduces the second sentence, but it does not SUBORDINATE the second sentence (note especially the comma, which shows that it is "nonessential").

"Jimmy was in a bike accident last night. In addition to the death of his goldfish last week." --> The second of these is a fragment. In fact, it has neither a main subject nor a main verb! The problem is the prepositional phrase - in addition TO - which prevents anything afterwards from being a main subject or verb.

If you want more practice, google "sentence fragments" and you should find a surfeit of practice exercises - some better than others, but nearly all adequate.

[JbhB682]

Bumping up this topic

Hi - Quick clarification on the OA (Which is A)

How can the red below be considered a standalone .....if i separate it out

"In contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza" .....

While above independent clause does have a subject and a verb which is needed for any independent clause, the "In contract" in this separate clause is throwing me off, specifically ----- shouldn't the independent clause not discuss also what is it, that is being contrasted in the independent clause itself ....

instead the comparison is part of the earlier part of the sentence...

Please let me know if you can shed some light on this please !

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Antigenic shift refers to the combination of two different strains of influenza; in contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza.

1) influenza; in contrast, antigenic drift refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza
2) influenza, different than the natural mutation of a single strain, known as antigenic drift
3) influenza, in contrast to the natural mutation of a single strain, known as antigenic drift
4) influenza, different than antigenic drift, which refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza
5) influenza; in contrast to antigenic drift, which refers to the natural mutation of a single strain of influenza

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

Take a look at Ron's post: there's a difference between 'In contrast, ... ' and 'In contrast to ... '. The first one just means something like 'On the other hand, ' and is fine for introducing a sentence (the contrast can be in the previous sentence, or, as here, before the semi-colon. On the other hand, 'In contrast to ... ' sets up a comparison structure - 'In contrast to X , Y.' - and requires two things to compare.

More importantly, when you're exploring idioms, think up simple examples and use your own experience of English to discover the patterns involved.