Hi Folks,

Let me begin by thankig you all for such analytical responses. Some explanations are pretty good here. These detailed analysis certainly helps us learn in much more efffective manner than just writing the correct answer choice. So here comes the detailed solution of this question.

Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined from 23% to 14% since the last year while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.



• Apple has reduced orders for iPhone 5 components.
• The reason for this decision is weaker-than-expected demand.
• Since last year,
o Apple’s share has declined from 23% to 14%.
o However, Samsung’s share has increased from 8.8% to 31%.



Error Analysis

• Clause 1: Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand
• Clause 2: because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined from 23% to 14% since the last year
• Clause 3: while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.

Error 1 – Illogical Meaning – The sentence implies that demand if weaker because Apple’s share has declined over a certain time period. The causal relationship in this context does not make much sense since the demand did not become weak because the shipments decreased. In fact the correct relationship should be as follows: Demand has weakened as evidenced by the decrease in number of shipments. So the correct sentence should present such relationship.

Error 2 - Plural verb “have declined” does not agree in number with singular subject “Apple’s share”.

PoE

A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined: Incorrect for the reasons stated above.

B. because of weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined: Incorrect.

Correct Part – This choice uses correct construction to express the logical intended meaning. The clause after the colon is used to present the idea that explains the weaker than expected demand.
Error 1 – Use of “because of” is incorrect because it modifies the noun entity “Planned reduction”. “Due to” should be used to modify nouns.
Error 2 – Use of past tense “declined” is incorrect because the word “since” has been used to present the sequencing decline in shipments started in the recent past and may still be continuing. Hence we need present perfect tense.

C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined: Correct Answer

D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments: Incorrect.

Error 1 – Use of “because of” is incorrect because it modifies the noun entity “Planned reduction”.
Error 2 – The comma + verb-ing modifier “declining” modifies the preceding clause. It presents the result of the modified clause. This modification is illogical as discussed in original choice.

E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments: Incorrect.

Error 1 – Use of “because of” is incorrect because it modifies the noun entity “Planned reduction”.
Error 2 – Use of past tense “decreased” is not correct. We need present perfect.
Error 3 – Illogical meaning. This choice implies that weaker than expected demand decreased Apple’s share of shipments. This is not logical intended meaning.



1. “Because of” cannot be used to refer to a noun entity. Use of “Due to” is correct for such usages.
2. Subject and Verb must agree in number with each other.
3. Use present perfect tense with “since”, when “since” is used to present sequencing.
4. Comma + Verb-ing modifies the preceding clause. It either presents additional information about the preceding clause or it presents the result of the preceding clause.

Thanks.
Shraddha
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Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined from 23% to 14% since the last year while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.
A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined
B. because of weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined- creating a fragment
C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined- Correct
D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - Reduction is a Noun & because of is incorrectly modifying it
E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - Reduction is a Noun & because of is incorrectly modifying it

IMO answer is C
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even i think its C...please post the OA

A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined - SV issue
B. because of weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined - not parallel with "Has increased"
C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined - Parallel - But I am a little unsure about the colon being introduced here
D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - "Declining" is not parallel "Increased"
E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - not parallel with "Has increased"

In real test, I would go with the lesser evil C

But I have two doubts, if someone can help I will be happy.
1. Colon is required while writing a list. Is Apple's share and Samsung's share forming a list here?
2. According to Aristotle SC Grail, generally past perfect is accompanied with "SINCE". Here even though, the "has declined" is parallel with "has steadily increased" is it compliant with Since?

Thanking a lot in advance for your feedback.

Regards,
Pritish

IMO C, has declined! not sure about the colon though!

Meaning :- the reduction in components of iphone5 is caused by weaker demand. further statistics are given about apple`s share and Samsung`s share to show case how the demand has reduced

Error analysis :-
Apple`s Share - Have, subject -verb agreement error, also the weaker than expected demand is not because of apple `s shares ..

POE :- 3 options start with because of and 2 options start with due to, the reduction is not because of weaker demand but the reduction is caused by weaker demand.


A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined - Explained

B. because of weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined - use of because of and no verb for second IC. declined is a verb-ed modifier.

C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined - Correct

D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - use of because of and the verb-ing modifier incorrect in the context used

E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - use of because of and 'that' modifies demand which means that the demand is decreasing the apple`s share, not correct

IMO :C
My explanation is given below :

Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to ( No issue of using "Due to" as it is modifying Noun "Planned reduction in order...) weaker-than-expected demand because (provides the reason why weaker-than-expected demand) Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have ( reqd singular verb "has declined " reqd as singular subject "Apple's Share ; also past perfect is ok here as it discussed the decline of share from 23 %( some time in past ) to 14% (present )) declined from 23% to 14% since the last year while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.

A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined : Incorrect ( discussed in main clause)

B. because of ( due to can be replaced with because of) weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined
:Incorrect ( discussed in main clause , Fragment issue )

C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined : CORRECT ( Discussed in main clause)

D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments ( Instead of providing the reasons for weaker-than-expected demand , V-ING modifier providing the effect of preceding clause ; hence meaning changed) :Incorrect

E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments ( changed the meaning as it now says that demand decreased the Apple's share , different from the intended meaning og original sentence ):In correct

Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined from 23% to 14% since the last year while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.

Meaning - Planned reduction of order happened because of weaker than expected demand. The reason for this reduction is that Apple share of world wide smartphone declined while Samsung share has increased

Clauses

p1 - Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand
p2 - because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined from 23% to 14% since the last year
p3 - while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.

p2 - has verb issue

A. due to weaker-than-expected demand because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments have declined - verb issue

B. because of weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments declined - No verb

C. due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined -- Right answer

D. because of weaker-than-expected demand, declining Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - meaning issue

E. because of weaker-than-expected demand that decreased Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments - meaning demand can not decrease the apple's share

Hi Pritish,

Here are the answers for your doubts:
1. Colon can be used to join two independent clauses. In such structures, the clause after the colon presents detailed information about the clause preceding the colon. So essentially, the part after the colon is the extension of the part before the colon.

Planned reduction in orders for components for the iPhone 5 is due to weaker-than-expected demand: Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments has declined from 23% to 14% since the last year while Samsung’s share has steadily increased from 8.8% to 31% during the same time period.

In this sentence with the correct answer choice, the clause after the colon describes what has led to “weaker-than-expected demand”. So this construction is correct.

2. With “since” we use “present perfect tense”. This is so because “since” suggests an action that has started sometime in the past and is still continuing. Present perfect tense just does that. Hence, the e-gmat sentence, use of “since” is correct because Apple’s share of world-wide smartphone shipments began to decline last year and continues in the present as well. Same holds true about the increase in the Samsung’s share.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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