The recent decrease in revenue has been attributed to rising energy pr

We can eliminate choices A and C, because, the relative pronoun –which - modifies the noun – year -, an absurd match.

We must select either the present participial hurting or the verb – hurt-.

We can not pick E because of the self contradiction within the clause; when we use a singular verb - is typical -, then we must match it up with another singular verb – hurts- in the second arm, rather than the plural verb - hurt- The subject of the sentence is the singular decrease rather than the plural - rising energy prices and plummeting consumer confidence –

We now have B and D. In D, the usage of being does denote a sense of ongoing, while it should not. Because the decease has been recent and is over. If it were to continue, we would rather call it the current decrease


This leaves us with B, not a satisfactory one too. The shift of tense from present perfect to past tense was is grammatically undesirable. Has been lower would have been better and parallel IMO.

All said and done, B perhaps, may be the final compulsion