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

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??

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").

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)

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")..

_________________
Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor

Thanks Tim!

no problem!

_________________
Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor

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.

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!

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.