The hognose snake puts on an impressive bluff

[gmater08]

The hognose snake puts on an impressive bluff, hissing and rearing back, broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but, having no dangerous fangs and no venom, eventually, if its pursuer is not cowed by the performance, will fall over and play dead.

(A) broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but, having no dangerous fangs and no venom,
(B) broadens the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigns repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom,
(C) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigning repeated strikes, but it has no dangerous fangs and no venom, and
(D) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does and feigns repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom, and
(E) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom, and

How to select between option "C" and option "E". Please clarify?

Thanks

[gmater08]

Any takers for this one?

[12rk34]

Let us examine 'C' :
The hognose snake...but it has no dangerous fangs and no venom, .....and (it) will fall over and play dead.
Here 'it' is the subject of the verb 'will' and the independent clause 'will fall...' maintains parallelism.
If there is a single subject and we have two or more clauses in parallel contruction, we need not repeat the subject.

Let us have a look at 'E' :
(E) broadening the flesh behind its head the way a cobra does, feigning repeated strikes, but with no dangerous fangs and no venom,.... and will fall over and play dead.
Here 'will fall over ...' has no subject and [b'hognose snake' [/b]is placed far away from the verb 'will'.
Hence 'C' is the correct choice.

[raghava_bharadwaj]

Another problem with C is that the "and" before feigning is missing.
for instance, In a list of things separated by comma; a,b and c is preferred.

[RonPurewal]

here's a fat post on this one:

post18730.html