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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
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A Labor Department study states that the numbers of women employed outside the home grew by more than a thirty-five percent increase in the past decade and accounted for more than sixty-two percent of the total growth in the civilian work force.
(A) numbers of women employed outside the home grew by more than a thirty-five percent increase
(B) numbers of women employed outside the home grew more than thirty-five percent
(C) numbers of women employed outside the home were raised by more than thirty-five percent
(D) number of women employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent
(E) number of women employed outside the home was raised by more than a thirty-five percent increase
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that how many women are employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Awkwardness/RedundancyA: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "numbers of women"; the use of the plural noun "numbers" illogically implies that certain numbers
belonging to women employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent; the intended meaning is that
how many women are employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent. Further, Option A redundantly uses "grew by" alongside "increase", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "numbers of women"; the use of the plural noun "numbers" illogically implies that certain numbers
belonging to women employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent; the intended meaning is that
how many women are employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "numbers of women"; the use of the plural noun "numbers" illogically implies that certain numbers
belonging to women employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent; the intended meaning is that
how many women are employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent. Moreover, Option C further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "were raised"; the use of the passive voice incorrectly implies that the number of women employed outside the home was increased
by a second entity; the intended meaning is that the number of women employed outside the home increased
autonomously,.
D: Correct. This answer choice uses the clause "number of women...increased", conveying the intended meaning - that
how many women[/i] are employed outside the home increased,
autonomously, by more than thirty-five percent. Further, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "was raised"; the use of the passive voice incorrectly implies that the number of women employed outside the home was increased
by a second entity; the intended meaning is that the number of women employed outside the home increased
autonomously,. Further, Option E redundantly uses "raised" alongside "increase", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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