HOT Competition: A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insuranc

Question

A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insurance  claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought .

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought

B. claims suggests that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought

C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists

D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists

E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Crack Verbal Explanation:

A. Correct Answer.  The subject and verb are in agreement here. This option is concise as well.

B. The plural subject ‘surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insurance claims’ should take a plural verb ‘suggest’ and not the singular ‘suggests’. The use of ‘so weak as’ is unidiomatic.

C. Plural 'have' cannot refer to singular ‘state’. "by some economists" suggests passive voice. The sentence then reads - "as weak as the state was previously thought by some economists". We need the infinitive "to be" to make the meaning clear - "as weak as the state was previously thought to be by some economists".

D. The construction ‘so weak as' is unidiomatic. This is a sentence fragment as it does not have an active verb. "by some economists" suggests passive voice. The sentence then reads - "as weak as the state was previously thought by some economists". We need the infinitive "to be" to make the meaning clear - "as weak as the state was previously thought to be by some economists".

E. 'As weak as' construction is not maintained. This is a sentence fragment as it does not have an active verb.

NiftyNiffler · Answer

A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insurance  claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought.

A. claims  suggest  that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought  -- CORRECT, compound subject ( a surge .. and a drop .. ) needs plural verb (suggest)

B. claims  suggests  that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought  -- singular verb for plural subject
 
C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists  -- unnecessary passive voice in the latter half of the sentence (thought by some economists)
 
D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists  -- sentence fragment (doesn't have a main verb) 
E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists  -- same error as D

The answer is  A .

debjit1990 · Answer

A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insurance claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought.

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought: Correct

B. claims suggests that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought: Suggest wrong. It should be suggest as plural compound subj is present.

C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists: wrong. Previously clearly indicated the action is in past. so present perfect is wrong.

D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists: wrong. No main verb

E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists :wrong. No main verb

LIBERTYRodP · Answer

VERBS, VOICE

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought    ----- CORRECT

B. claims suggests that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought   --- Wrong Verb number, subject is plural. 
 
C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists   ---- Passive voice makes it sound ackward.

D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists   ---- Not a sentence, since it does not have a main clause.

E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists   ---- Not a sentence, since it does not have a main clause .

GKomoku · Answer

A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insurance claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought.

Meaning of the original sentence:
1. a surge in daily wages
2. a drop in monthly insurance claims
above two things suggest that "the state" might not be so weak
as some economists previously thought

Intended meaning is not so vague to understand. Original sentence conveys meaning properly.

Errors of the original sentence:
Seems no critical grammar mistakes present in original sentence at all.

Attachment:

A.PNG [ 27.72 KiB | Viewed 4071 times ]

POE

After meaning analysis we found out that (A) is good enough, by quickly skimming all the answer choices for any differences, we notice that comma + suggesting is incorrect and it's not sentence at all, so we can eliminate (D) and (E) straight away.

If you properly collect all your SV pairs you know that (B) has SV agreement error - eliminate.

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought

B. claims suggests that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought

C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists

D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists

E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists

So between (A) and (C) we have different verb tense and voice.
(A) conveys meaning with any ambiguity as it is, present perfect here is fine but in fusion with passive voice it became wordy.
So clear and concise (A) is the winner.

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought
C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists

Attachment:

Note.PNG [ 29.75 KiB | Viewed 4067 times ]

(A) is the answer.

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as some economists previously thought 
The meaning and tense is perfect therefore let us hang on to it

B. claims suggests that the state might not be so weak as some economists have previously thought
have thought isn't the right usage therefore out

C. claims suggest that the state might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some economists
have been isn't the right usaage therefore out

D. claims, suggesting about the state that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some economists 
dependent clauses shouldn't be seperated through commas , and suggest isn't the right usage therefore out

E. claims, suggesting the state might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some economists 
Similar reasoning as D

THerefore IMO A

HOT Competition: A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insuranc

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

HOT Competition: A surge in daily wages and a drop in monthly insuranc

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