Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
marine wrote:
Unlike most other mergers in the utility industry, which have been driven by the need to save money and extend companies' service areas, the merger of the nation's leading gas and electric company is intended to create a huge marketing network for the utilities in question with states opening their utility markets to competition.
(A) and electric company is intended to create a huge marketing network for the utilities in question with states opening
(B) and electric companies are intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question as states open
(C) and electric companies are intended to create a huge network that will be marketing the utilities in question, with states opening
(D) company and electric company are intending to create a huge marketing network for the utilities in question, with states opening
(E) company and leading electric company is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question as states open
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the merger of the nation's leading gas company and its leading electric company is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question as states open their utility markets to competition.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Verb FormsA: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "leading gas and electric company"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the merger is between the nation's leading gas and electric company and itself; the intended meaning is that the merger is between the nation's leading gas company and the nation's leading electric company. Moreover, Option A further alters the meaning of the question through the phrase "with states opening"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
alongside or
by using states that
are opening their utility markets to competition; the intended meaning is that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
at the time when the states open their utility markets to competition.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "merger" with the plural verb "are intended".
C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "merger" with the plural verb "are intended". Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with states opening"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
alongside or
by using states that
are opening their utility markets to competition; the intended meaning is that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
at the time when the states open their utility markets to competition.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "merger" with the plural verb "are intending". Further, Option D alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "merger...are intending"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that
the merger intends to create a huge marketing network; the intended meaning is that a
separate entity intends to
use the merger to create a huge marketing network. Moreover, Option D further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with states opening"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
alongside or
by using states that
are opening their utility markets to competition; the intended meaning is that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
at the time when the states open their utility markets to competition.
E: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun "merger" with the singular verb "is intended". Further, Option E uses the phrase "leading gas company and leading electric company", conveying the intended meaning - that the merger is between the nation's leading gas company and the nation's leading electric company. Moreover, Option E uses the phrase "merger...is intended", conveying the intended meaning - that a
separate entity intends to
use the merger to create a huge marketing network. Additionally, Option E uses the phrase "as states open", conveying the intended meaning - that the merger is intended to create a huge network for marketing the utilities in question
at the time when the states open their utility markets to competition.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
_________________