Researchers now regard interferon as not a single substance, but it is rather a biological family of complex molecules that play an important, though not entirely defined, role in the immune system.


Researchers now regard interferon as not a single substance, but it is rather a biological family of complex molecules that play an important, though not entirely defined, role in the immune system.

A. as not a single substance, but it is rather a biological family of complex molecules that play

B. as not a single substance but as a biological family of complex molecules playing

C. not as a single substance but as a biological family of complex molecules that play

D. not to be a single substance but rather a biological family of complex molecules playing

E. not as a single substance but instead as being a biological family of complex molecules that play


Researchers now regard interferon explanation

Discussion

“As”. It’s important. If you see it then make sure you’re analyzing around it and seeking out another potential “As” to close the loop on some parallelism. You don’t always need an “As” pair. For instance:

The same as…

but sometimes you do

As much as…

A. as not a single substance, but it is rather a biological family of complex molecules that play

“As” doesn’t match “it is”. We want: not as x but as y.

B. as not a single substance but as a biological family of complex molecules playing

We have “As” but “As” however the “not” is in the wrong place. We want: not as x but as y. We have: as not x but as y.

C. not as a single substance but as a biological family of complex molecules that play

CORRECT. This looks good. Not as X but as Y. 

D. not to be a single substance but rather a biological family of complex molecules playing

Most people are OK saying: this is g a r b a g e. No need to overanalyze. But, just to make sure. You want “regard as”. “Regard to be” doesn’t work.

E. not as a single substance but instead as being a biological family of complex molecules that play

“as” and “as being” don’t match. You can also show how awkward this is by distributing the “Regard interferon” across the parallel structure. “Regard interferon instead as being..”

We want: “Regard not as X but as Y”

Even if tempted by this, if you do a head to head comparison with C. hopefully you’ll find C. more concise.

Correct Answer: C

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