A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive

Here "decline" is not a verb, rather its usage is somewhat similar to that of a gerund. Consider the following example:

I (subject) have seen (main verb) him (object) fighting (gerund)with his brother.
California (subject) has seen (main verb) consumption (object) decline (raw verb form acting as gerund).

A clever question by the test maker knowing that students will be tired after AWA, IR, Quant and lots of passages and CR in verbal.
It is hard to read all the verbal diarrhoea in this question and it is also easy to get confused.
But the correct answer can be revealed in under 30 seconds
We need a Noun that is being addressed to or modified by the starting phrase "A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program,===> NOUN
Option A and B are out because they are not starting with a noun (Per capita is not a noun)
Option C,D,E can be correct because they are starting with a noun (California is a noun)
Now option C and E has error of repetition :- per capita and per persion implies the same thing.
Only D is left
CORRECT ANSWER IS D

A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program, per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as in the nation as a whole.
A) per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as
B) annual per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs to about 60, more than twice as great as that
C) California's annual per capita consumption of cigarettes declined from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as the drop
D) California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that
E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that

Important: When a sentence begins with a with noun modifier (as it does in the original sentence), stop at the comma and ask the question that the modifier raises

So, once we read, A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program, we should stop and ask . . .

"Who or what initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program?"

If the sentence is properly constructed, the part that immediately follows the comma will answer that question in a logical manner.

Reading on we get...

(A) per capita consumption ...
Makes no sense. per capita consumption can't initiate an anti-smoking program.
ELIMINATE A

(B) annual per capita consumption ...
Makes no sense. annual per capita consumption can't initiate an anti-smoking program.
ELIMINATE B

(C) California's annual per capita consumption
Makes no sense. annual per capita consumption can't initiate an anti-smoking program.
ELIMINATE C

(D) California ...
Great. California could, indeed, initiate an anti-smoking program.
KEEP D for now

(E) California ...
Great. California could, indeed, initiate an anti-smoking program.
KEEP E for now

We've narrowed it down to D or E. Let's check each one.

(D) California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that
Looks fine.

(E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that
Redundancy issue.
per capita means the same as per person
ELIMINATE E

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent

How do we become sure of the efficacy of the plan at present? I could not find whether it was a thing of the past or still happening from the stem. Please help!

The present perfect 'has seen' indicates that the consumption started declining in the past and the decline is further pervading into the present and may continue in the future.

(E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that

the most terrible error with choice E is "that" dose not have referent. "that" refer to what noun in preceding clause. there is no "drop" so , "that" is wrong.

I do not understand "anually" in choice d. it is an adverb. but I do not see which it modify? pls, explain. thank you

sorry to post a 3rd time. I do so because each post is a different point.

in choice d, can I replace "as great as that " with "as great as the one" ? why not, pls , explan

A , B , C can be eliminated on the grounds that we need someone(person, state etc) to initiate the anti smoking campaign.
Answer chpice E repeats the use of per person (per capita and per person mean the same thing)
Answer is D

A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program, per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as in the nation as a whole.

(A) per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as

(B) annual per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs to about 60, more than twice as great as that

(C) California's annual per capita consumption of cigarettes declined from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as the drop

(D) California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that

(E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that


The first part of the sentence says that - A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program,
Who/ What initiated the nation’s most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program- Is it California or is it per capita consumption of cigarettes in California? It’s the former. Hence it has to be placed right after the modifier. Hence A, B, and C are out.

Option D- Correct

Option E- California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that. - Redundancy, "more than twice as great as that" what does this refer to- It should be- a drop, more than twice as ..
Incorrect

Vishnupriya
CrackVerbal Prep Team

(A) per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as
as great as isn't the right usage therefore out

(B) annual per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs to about 60, more than twice as great as that
more than twice what?? isn't clearly stated therefore out

(C) California's annual per capita consumption of cigarettes declined from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as the drop
The meaning isn't clearly portrayed therefore out

(D) California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that
The meaning is perfect therefore let us hang on to it

(E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that
Similar reasoning as B

Therefore IMO D

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that a decade ago, California initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program and has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, and this drop is more than twice as great as that in the nations a whole.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Comparisons + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• In the “phrase + comma + noun” and “noun + comma + phrase” constructions, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• Comparisons can only be made between similar things.

A:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses "A decade after initiating...program" to modify "per capita consumption of cigarettes in California", illogically implying that the per capita consumption of cigarettes in California initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; the intended meaning is that California, itself, initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
2/ Option A incorrectly compares the "drop" in annual per capita cigarette consumption in California to the prepositional phrase "in the nation as a whole"; remember, comparisons must always be made between similar things.
3/ Option A redundantly uses the phrase "per capita" alongside the phrase "per person", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; this usage is redundant, as both phrases convey the same meaning.

B:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses "A decade after initiating...program" to modify "annual per capita consumption of cigarettes in California", illogically implying that the per capita consumption of cigarettes in California initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; the intended meaning is that California, itself, initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
2/ The sentence formed by Option B incorrectly modifies "60 (packs)" with the phrase "more than twice as great as that in the nation as a whole", illogically implying that "60 packs" of cigarettes is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; the intended meaning is that the drop in consumption from 125 packs to about 60 packs is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; remember, in the “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.

C:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses "A decade after initiating...program" to modify "California's annual per capita consumption of cigarettes", illogically implying that the per capita consumption of cigarettes in California initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; the intended meaning is that California, itself, initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program; in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
2/ The sentence formed by Option C incorrectly modifies "60 (packs)" with the phrase "more than twice as great as the drop in the nation as a whole", illogically implying that "60 packs" of cigarettes is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; the intended meaning is that the drop in consumption from 125 packs to about 60 packs is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; remember, in the “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
3/ Option C redundantly uses the phrase "per capita" alongside the phrase "per person", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; this usage is redundant, as both phrases convey the same meaning.

D: Correct.
1/ This answer choice correctly uses "A decade after initiating...program" to modify "California", conveying the intended meaning - that California, itself, initiated the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program.
2/ The sentence formed by Option D correctly modifies "decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60" with the absolute phrase "a drop more than twice as great as that in the nation as a whole", conveying the intended meaning - that the drop in consumption from 125 packs to about 60 packs is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole.
3/ Option D correctly compares the "drop" in annual per capita cigarette consumption in California with the "that in the nation as a whole".
4/ Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly modifies "60 (packs)" with the phrase "more than twice as great as that in the nation as a whole", illogically implying that "60 packs" of cigarettes is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; the intended meaning is that the drop in consumption from 125 packs to about 60 packs is more than twice as great as the drop in cigarette consumption in the nation as a whole; remember, in the “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
2/ Option E redundantly uses the phrase "per capita" alongside the phrase "per person", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; this usage is redundant, as both phrases convey the same meaning.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program, per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as in the nation as a whole.

(A) per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as - Modifier error. We need a noun that initiated the nation's most comprehensive program....

(B) annual per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs to about 60, more than twice as great as that - Modifier error. We need a noun that initiated the nation's most comprehensive program....

(C) California's annual per capita consumption of cigarettes declined from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as the drop - Modifier error. We need a noun that initiated the nation's most comprehensive program....Per capita hasn't initiated it. Moreover, per capita....per person means the same thing - redundancy.

(D) California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that - perfect. appositive construction. A drop more than twice as great as a drop in the nation as a whole.

(E) California has seen annual per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs per person to about 60, more than twice as great as that - comma +more than...modifies the nearest noun i.e. 60 packs. It essentially says that 60 packs, more than twice as great as that (what does this "that" refer to? a decline? saying 60 packs, more than twice as great as a decline in the nation as a whole - ridiculous. How can "60 packs" itself be "more than twice as great as a decline in the nation as a whole"? No. We intend to say that a drop (of 65 from 120 to 65) is more than a drop in the nation as a whole. Additionally, "per capita" and "per person" are redundant.