Writing question

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1
  1. Because they painted scenes of life as ordinary people lived it, rather than scenes from myths, many nineteenth-century American artists differed from earlier times. No error.

I had an objection of D as wrong. Though it is, it still makes sense if one removed the word nineteenth-century. That is, because it describes American artists of those earlier times. So what is wrong with it?

2

The artists differed from artists of earlier times, not from the times themselves.

Get used to questions of this type.

3

How did you detect that there is a contrast? I interpreted it as just saying differed with no comparison.

4

I have no idea what you mean?

5

I meant that it could be saying “it differed” without comparison, and the phrase from earlier times just shows the era of the artists.

6

“To differ” implies a comparison, inherently.

It’s like saying “The dog was similar.” That doesn’t make sense on its own, does it? Similar to WHAT? In your sentence, you have an answer: Different from what? The artists in earlier times.

7

When you see a phrase like “differ from X,” your first assumption should be that “differ” and “from” are working together. There might be an exception, but I cant think of one.

8

Okay, thank you all @WasatchWriter and @bodangles .

9

B is correct answer, right ?

10

It’s D.

11

What does “it” stand for ? Ordinary people lived it ???

12

Life.

Rephrase to see:
They painted life as it was lived by ordinary people.

13

Oh, got it. Thanks