Such orb-weaving spiders like the argiope

[nayak.purnendu]

Such orb-weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure, with an outer rim and a number of spokes emanating from the hub.
A. Such orb weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure
B. Such orb weaving spiders as the argiope builds webs with what is essentially a wheel-like structure
C. The argiope spider, in the same way as other orb weaving spiders, build webs in a structure that is essentially wheel-like
D. Orb weaving spiders such as the argiope build webs that are essentially wheel-like
E. Like other orb weaving spiders do, the argiope builds webs as essentially wheel-like

It was easy to get the answer correct by POE, but I am confused about the way a preposition "with" is used after the noun - as if it is describing more about the wheel like structure.

Please rectify my understanding. What does the non-underlined section signify as a part of the sentence.
OA: D

[jecklyde]

I'm wondering how D is correct... It essentially says that Orb-weaving spiders build webs that are wheel like structure. Shouldn't it be structures instead of structure??

[RonPurewal]

Such orb-weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure, with an outer rim and a number of spokes emanating from the hub.
A. Such orb weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure
B. Such orb weaving spiders as the argiope builds webs with what is essentially a wheel-like structure
C. The argiope spider, in the same way as other orb weaving spiders, build webs in a structure that is essentially wheel-like
D. Orb weaving spiders such as the argiope build webs that are essentially wheel-like
E. Like other orb weaving spiders do, the argiope builds webs as essentially wheel-like

It was easy to get the answer correct by POE, but I am confused about the way a preposition "with" is used after the noun - as if it is describing more about the wheel like structure.

Please rectify my understanding. What does the non-underlined section signify as a part of the sentence.
OA: D

COMMA + WITH is normally an adverbial modifier, modifying the entire preceding clause.

in this case, the "with" modifier modifies the immediately preceding short clause ("...that is essentially wheel-like").

[aps_asks]

I was searching for the right answer between b) and E).

I eliminated b) on account of its verbosity.

Am i correct ?

Are there any more reasons to eliminate B)

[tim]

be very wary of ever eliminating an answer choice because of verbosity. in this case, B is wrong because of subject-verb agreement ("spiders...builds")..

[aps_asks]

Thanks Tim!

[tim]

no problem!

[thanghnvn]

Ron, Manhantan experts,

COMMA +WITH PHRASE normally modify the previous clause.

but it can modify immediately preceding noun. I already see this case in a question in OG but I can not remember now.

Anyone remember a question in OG, in which comma+with phrase modify immediately preceding noun, pls, show the question.

Thank you.

But I think that we should alway look for mechanical grammar errors before going to logic and style( wordy or redundant" problem. I find this strategy particularly effective.

[RonPurewal]

Ron, Manhantan experts,

COMMA +WITH PHRASE normally modify the previous clause.

but it can modify immediately preceding noun. I already see this case in a question in OG but I can not remember now.

Anyone remember a question in OG, in which comma+with phrase modify immediately preceding noun, pls, show the question.

you might be thinking of the non-underlined part of OG12 #95. (we can't reproduce OG questions on the forum.)
in that problem, though, it's fairly obvious that the "with" modifier modifies the preceding subject -- because the preceding subject is the only thing in front of it!

[zhongshanlh]

Such orb-weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure, with an outer rim and a number of spokes emanating from the hub.
A. Such orb weaving spiders like the argiope build webs in an essentially wheel-like structure
B. Such orb weaving spiders as the argiope builds webs with what is essentially a wheel-like structure
C. The argiope spider, in the same way as other orb weaving spiders, build webs in a structure that is essentially wheel-like
D. Orb weaving spiders such as the argiope build webs that are essentially wheel-like
E. Like other orb weaving spiders do, the argiope builds webs as essentially wheel-like

It was easy to get the answer correct by POE, but I am confused about the way a preposition "with" is used after the noun - as if it is describing more about the wheel like structure.

Please rectify my understanding. What does the non-underlined section signify as a part of the sentence.
OA: D

COMMA + WITH is normally an adverbial modifier, modifying the entire preceding clause.

in this case, the "with" modifier modifies the immediately preceding short clause ("...that is essentially wheel-like").

Ron,allow me to dig further about the "with" phrase in this question.
as you said in other threads, COMMA + WITH usually functions as an adverbial modifier and modifies the entire preceding clause.

1.but in this PREP question, more specifically, in option A and option D,what does the with phrase function as?

2.IMO, in A, "with an outer rim and a number of spokes emanating from the hub" functions as a noun modifier and modifies the noun phrase "an essentially wheel-like structure".
am i thinking right?

3.in option D,i noticed you said that "the 'with' modifier modifies the immediately preceding short clause",then should we regard it as a noun modifier or an adverbial modifier?

4. one more question---->i am not quite sure that in option A, whether could we regard the "with" phrase as an adverbial modifier and modifies the entire preceding clause?if we could, then the 'with' phrase may cause ambiguity because we could either regard it as a noun modifier or an adverbial modifier?

if i am wrong, please correct my thoughts and thank you soooooooooo much.

[RonPurewal]

2.IMO, in A, "with an outer rim and a number of spokes emanating from the hub" functions as a noun modifier and modifies the noun phrase "an essentially wheel-like structure".
am i thinking right?

yeah, pretty much. although i wouldn't go too crazy with analyzing choices that are incorrect.

3.in option D,i noticed you said that "the 'with' modifier modifies the immediately preceding short clause",then should we regard it as a noun modifier or an adverbial modifier?

modifying a clause, therefore, functioning as an adverb.

4. one more question---->i am not quite sure that in option A, whether could we regard the "with" phrase as an adverbial modifier and modifies the entire preceding clause?if we could, then the 'with' phrase may cause ambiguity because we could either regard it as a noun modifier or an adverbial modifier?

if i am wrong, please correct my thoughts and thank you soooooooooo much.

that modifier would probably be best interpreted as modifying the preceding noun, since it is more accurately a description of the webs themselves than of the spiders' act of building the webs.

in any case, however, i wouldn't say there is an ambiguity here -- even if you can interpret the modifier in both ways -- because there's no divergence of meaning between the two interpretations. in other words, both interpretations mean essentially the same thing, so there's no "ambiguity" even if both are valid.

[Haibara]

Sorry to put a stupid question here.
Ron, I can't tell the difference of meaning between Choice C and Choice D.

C. The argiope spider, in the same way as other orb weaving spiders, build webs in a structure that is essentially wheel-like
D. Orb weaving spiders such as the argiope build webs that are essentially wheel-like

How "in the same way as" changes the meaning of "such as" in the correct answer D? I know C is wrong for subject-verb disagreement.
Just want to figure out the difference in meaning.

Thanks in advance.

[RonPurewal]

"In the same way" means ... in the same way.

"X's such as ___" just means that ___ is an "X", but implies nothing about methodology.

E.g.,
Fashion designers, such as Claudio, create clothes for stylish gentlemen.
* Claudio is a designer.
* Designers make clothes for stylish guys.
* This sentence does not imply that Claudio does this in the same way other designers do it. He may create innovations that the fashion world has never seen before.

Claudio, in the same way as other designers, creates clothes for stylish gentlemen.
* Claudio's designs are similar to other designers' designs.

[Haibara]

"In the same way" means ... in the same way.

"X's such as ___" just means that ___ is an "X", but implies nothing about methodology.

E.g.,
Fashion designers, such as Claudio, create clothes for stylish gentlemen.
* Claudio is a designer.
* Designers make clothes for stylish guys.
* This sentence does not imply that Claudio does this in the same way other designers do it. He may create innovations that the fashion world has never seen before.

Claudio, in the same way as other designers, creates clothes for stylish gentlemen.
* Claudio's designs are similar to other designers' designs.

So surprising! It invalidates my previous notion of "such...as...". For ten years, since I learned the phrase "such... as..."in secondary school, I've had the incorrect understanding(which I just recognised thanks to you) that "Such A's as B do something" means
1) B is an example of category of A
2) all of A's, including B, do the things described after "B".

Now I realise my long-held sense is wrong and have to refresh my mind. Thanks, Ron, so much for clarification. You are like a bonus to us foreign GMAT test takers!

[RonPurewal]

Oh. Yeah, no, that's not how it works. the whole point of "such X's as..." is to convey that you're NOT talking about all X's.
E.g., if you mention the language used in such books as the Bible, then your point is that Biblical language is NOT used in all books.

--

If "such as ____" is blocked off by commas"”i.e., "X's, such as ...""”THEN you are talking about all X's.

E.g.,
Nonsense passwords, such as "ENthedk29398#&^", are difficult for hackers to guess.
--> The point of this sentence is that ALL nonsense passwords are hard for hackers to guess. I'm just providing an example as a courtesy, for the benefit of readers who may not know what I mean by "nonsense password".

So, really, the issue boils down to whether there are commas; it actually has nothing to do with "such as".

(The GMAT doesn't test the comma issue.)