question and answer

[whl626]

The lenses in an optical microscope bend the light passing through a specimen to form an image of that specimen that is much larger ____ actually viewed.

A: than it
B: than the one
C: one than
D: than one which

The answer seems to be B, but A looks correct, though. ???

[Red5]

than when?

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by whl626

The lenses in an optical microscope bend the light passing through a specimen to form an image of that specimen that is much larger ____ actually viewed.

A: than it
B: than the one
C: one than
D: than one which

The answer seems to be B, but A looks correct, though. ???

If I had to choose one of those answers it would be B. (None of the others comes close.) However, none of the answers given are truly satisfactory. That is because the lens of an optical microscope creates an image that is much larger than that which is viewed with the naked eye. It's not larger than the image actually viewed. :(

[Edited for clarity.]
[Edited for spelling.]

[whl626]

:). not a logical comparison then. The question itself is questionable :)

[Casiopea]

• The lenses in an optical microscope bend the light...to form an image ...that is much larger than the one (the image) actually viewed. (OK)
  
  A: than it
  B: than the one
  C: one than
  D: than one which

B is correct because much larger than is being used to compare two nouns:

1. an image of a specimen that is much larger than
2. the (other) one i.e. the other image of the specimen

A is incorrect because "it" refers back to 'an image of a specimen'. That is, *it(self) is much larger than it(itself). ungrammatical

C would be correct iff we added "a":

...a much larger one than actually viewed.

D would be correct iff we added "the...is":

...much larger than the one which is actually viewed.

:D

[whl626]

:). Got it. The more I try to anaylse this sentence the more confusing it is to me :P.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by whl626

:). Got it. The more I try to anaylse this sentence the more confusing it is to me :P.

Here's a good idea: simplify the sentence.

Complex Sentence
The lenses in an optical microscope bend the light passing through a specimen to form an image of that specimen that is much larger ____ actually viewed.

Simplex Sentence
The lenses bend the light to form an image. An image that is much larger_____viewed.

:D