Although fruit can no longer grow once it is picked, it continues for some time to
respire, taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide, similar to the way human
beings breathe.

(A) similar to the way human beings breathe
(B) similarly to human beings who are breathing
(C) just like the breathing of human beings
(D) as human beings when breathing
(E) just as human beings do when they breathe

Is the OA E?

do you have a specific question about this problem? you shouldn't just post a problem, and ask nothing in particular about it.

the correct answer to this problem should be (e).

Whats wrong with C? also, i thought just as in E should have something (clause or noun) parellell not just - "Just as humans beings do"

Hello Ron.

What does "do" in E signify..

Please clarify..

it does.
"human beings do" is a complete clause; the subject is "human beings", and the verb is "do", which stands for "(continue to) respire".

--

the problem with (c) is with "like".

when you use "like" with a COMMA, the comparison is ALWAYS with the subject of the preceding clause (whether or not that's intended).

for instance, let's say Brent is attracted to brunettes, and that Brent is also attracted to redheads.
Brent is attracted to brunettes, like redheads --> incorrect. this doesn't mean what you want it to mean; instead, it implies that redheads are also attracted to brunettes (since "like redheads" automatically applies to brent, the subject).
Brent is attracted to brunettes, as he is to redheads --> correct. (note that you don't have to repeat "attracted".)

also, i've seen several official problems in which "just like" is incorrect, and none in which "just like" is correct (although there are many official problems in which "like" is correct).
there was even a 10th edition problem in which the correct answer had "like", and one answer was incorrect because it said "just like" instead of "like". (this problem has been purged from the 11th/12th editions, but i don't think they are going to do a 180 on the issue.)

Ron, could you please explain why choice A is wrong?

"Similar" is an adjective, and is therefore restricted to modifying nouns. When such an adjective is placed as an appositive, after a comma -- as it is here -- it is normally taken to stand for the immediately preceding noun. in this case, that's "carbon dioxide", which does not create a logical comparison with the way human beings breathe.

in general, however, you can ascertain that this choice is incorrect once you see the adjective "similar", since there is no noun, anywhere, to which this modifier may properly refer. The only words that would make sense in context are "to respire", and that's not a noun.

Dear ron,

in the option E 'just as human beings do when they breathe'
isn't this construction a little odd?
I feel, it suggests that there are instances when human beings do not breathe. will you please clarify.

Thanks,
Karthik

Ron

Before attacking the question I want to clear the stain (if any) on my own concept. So far I know that Just as..... so is correct. Is not it?

BR

I want to clear the stain (if any) on my own concept.

Your concept is immaculate, this part of it anyway.

So far I know that Just as..... so is correct.

It had better be an acceptable construction; it's right there in the OA. In a word, yes.

Is not it?

That's not right though. You mean Is it not? Though you do remind me of the band Was Not Was. ; ).