Agricultural scientists have estimated that the annual loss by erosion of arable land caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls approaches two million acres per year.

(A) the annual loss by erosion of arable land caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls approaches two million acres per year
(B) the erosion of heavy rainfall and inadequate flood control causes a loss of arable land approaching two million acres per year
(C) erosion caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls results in a loss of arable land approaching two million acres per year
(D) an annual loss approaching two million acres of arable land per year results from results from erosion caused by heavy rainfall and unadequate flood controls
(E) annually a loss of arable land approaching two million acres is caused by erosion due to heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls

Someone please explain this one.

Here is the link for this one, but still it is not clear.[/quote]

The sentence refers to loss of arable land and the key idiomatic structure is 'loss of'

A: the annual loss by erosion of arable land caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls approaches two million acres per year: loss by is an unidiomatic construction.
B: the erosion of heavy rainfall and inadequate flood: it it the erosion of heavy rainfall and inadequate flood or is it the erosion of arable land?
C: erosion caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate flood controls results in a loss of arable land approaching two million acres per year: structure is correct, verbs match in tense and form.
D: an annual loss approaching: unidiomatic construction again...
E: scientists have estimated that annually a loss: awkward construction for eg. scientists have estimated that a loss of... is better

Whenever we have the word annual in any a given text, the first thing we need to check is whether per year is also stated in the passage. The use of annual and per year in the same sentence is redundant. On that score alone, we can kick out choices A and D; B changes the meaning of the text significantly by saying that the loss is caused by rainfall rather than by erosion of arable land.

E has two problems, the first and the more important error is that it uses passive voice where it is more helpful to use an active voice. Secondly, note the structure of the sentence. Due to also means caused by; so in effect the choice says that the loss of arable land caused by erosion caused by heavy rainfall etc. This repetition is inelegant.

C on the other hand is forthright, active, and dynamic.

IMO, the passge doesn’t touch on the loss of quality of land due to erosion.
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