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Abhishek009
HKD1710
Although the decline in home prices equate to an amount less than 5% of the total value of the region’s housing stocklast year, economists assert that fear of further price erosion plays a major role in declining consumer confidence.

(A) equate to an amount less

(B) equate to less

(C) equated to less

(D) equated to lower

(E) equated to a lower amount

The split is between -

1. equate VS equated - equated is preferred here since the highlighted part of the sentence conveys a past incidence.
2. less VS lower - " the total value of the region’s housing stock " is countable so, less is correct.

Hence correct answer will be (C)

Hi Abhishek,

Small correction in your explanation.

Less is used for uncountable nouns.
Eg: I earn less money than you.

'Lower' is used in a different context and it does not fit in the given sentence. Hence the usage of 'lower' in this question is incorrect.
Eg: The height of tower A is lower than the height of tower B.
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Dear expert,
I misinterpret this sentence as there is a comparison between "the decline in home prices" and "the value of housing stock last year".
Can anyone please help me why such interpretation is wrong?

This may be a silly question,but would it be better if the placement of last year is change so that it conveys clearer meaning
Feeling lost :oops:
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Can anybody explain to me why the use of 'lower' is wrong at choice 'E'?
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Can anybody explain to me why the use of 'lower' is wrong at choice 'E'?

Please go through this discussion by Magoosh here

lower-less-more-greater-contradictions-on-official-gmat-123757.html#p1022071

Hope this helps..
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nuttyxtreme
Dear expert,
I misinterpret this sentence as there is a comparison between "the decline in home prices" and "the value of housing stock last year".
Can anyone please help me why such interpretation is wrong?

This may be a silly question,but would it be better if the placement of last year is change so that it conveys clearer meaning
Feeling lost :oops:

Can't get your question. "the decline in home prices" implies the total value that declines in home prices, the comparison is made between value and value.

Also, I see that there is no problem with "last year". Could you explain your question in more detail?
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