Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to

Question

Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to a steady inflation rate of four to five percent, businesses  found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking  strong public reaction.

(A) found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking
(B) found that they were capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke
(C) find that they are capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke
(D) are finding that they can raise prices by this amount without provoking
(E) are finding that they can raise prices according to this amount and will not thereby provoke

daagh · Accepted Answer

D is the best for its concision. A and B use past tense for a current phenomenon. In C, 'of raising' and 'not provoke are not parallel. E is wordy.

Shobhit7 · Answer

IMO, Ans is E.

Present tense phenomenon, hence A and B are out.

Shift of meaning by changing 'according to this amount' to 'by this amount'. So, C as D are out.

We are left with E. Use of thereby after will connect both the predicates as two related events.

Posted from my mobile device

max_la_menace357 · Answer

Must respect the sentence’s parallelism. Thus look at D,E
E is wordy and awkward 
D is the answer

Posted from my mobile device

utkarsh27 · Answer

My reasoning, between D and E,
in E, it feels like businesses are doing two actions:
Businesses are finding that they
1. can raise prices according to this amount
2. will not thereby provoke strong public reaction.
this is not the case, second event is providing more information about first action or is linked to first action.

D explains that relationship in a better way

Masterclass_Space · Answer

Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to a steady inflation rate of four to five percent, businesses found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking strong public reaction.
 
 (A) found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking (Incorrect: tenses and parallelism error)
Found is not parallel with are becoming. Because x therefore y. second if main clause is in present second should be in present hence it should be find instead of found
 (B) found that they were capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke (incorrect: tenses and parallelism error)
 (C) find that they are capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke (incorrect: parallelism error)
People are becoming, and Find are not parallel 
 (D) are finding that they can raise prices by this amount without provoking (the best option)
Maintaining parallelism and clear with meaning
 (E) are finding that they can raise prices according to this amount and will not thereby provoke (incorrect: incorrect meaning)
According to this amount means the amount is raising the price though the meaning should be till the amount.

Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards