The direction in which the Earth and the other solid planets—Mercury, Venus, and Mars—
spins were determined from collisions with giant celestial bodies in the early history of the Solar System.
(A) spins were determined from -- subject-verb agreement -- direction were ; the earth and other solid planets spins
(B) spins were determined because of -- subject-verb agreement -- direction were ; the earth and other solid planets spins
(C) spins was determined through -- -- subject-verb agreement -- the earth and other solid planets spins
non-sensical ; "X is determined through Y" means that "Y" is a method used to find out "X".
E.g., Optimal drug structure is often determined through combinatorial chemistry"”in other words, experimentation with essentially random combinations of chemical substitutions on a parent molecule.
(D) spin was determined by - Correct
(E) spin was determined as a result of - redundant ; specifically, "result of" signifies causation, so any other construction that also signifies causation creates fatal redundancy.
was determined as a result of... = saying exactly the same thing twice, so, redundant
was determined by... = not redundant
was a result of... = not redundant
Answer D
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When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. - Henry Ford
The Moment You Think About Giving Up, Think Of The Reason Why You Held On So Long