Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s

Question

Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s position  in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has  occurred.

(A) in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(B) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(C) regarding the budgetary deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(D) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(E) regarding the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rats have

blayel · Accepted Answer

To me, that is an egregious assumption. I believe when GMAT test-takers do the test, they should base answer directly on the given questions rather than rest upon the word "common sense" to make specious claims. Back to the original sentence, I will discuss only A and B (because C D E all wrong with the plural verb which should be singular). (A) in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has... (B) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has.... - B has a great advantage NOT ONLY because of concision but also the invaluable preposition "on". Position (noun) + on sth = opinion on sth. - However, by reducing the word "budget", it turns out to be ambiguous. Given the context "business community", it is also reasonable that it is a trade deficit. Thus, the answer is not clear 100%. Analyzing A, we see: - In/with regard to: is the PERFECTLY CORRECT idiom. Please check dictionary or your available grammar books. Those who just claim about how wordy the structure is please think about it as "regarding/ concerning" (at that time they will claim it is concise enough :roll:

) - "the issue of the budget deficit" is FINE. "Issue" means "problem", and those who say "the issue of the budget deficit is redundant", please look back on AWA 109 Sample, Sample 40, there is exactly a term of "trade deficit problem", and please do not say that "trade deficit problem" is different from "the problem of trade deficit" because, in this context, the point should lie in something more significant rather that minute nuance. - What is WRONG with A is the lack of the preposition "on". When you want to mention " opinion on/ about sth ", you have to include "on". However, the following term, which we continuously see in verbal tests, makes us forget "on": take the position that .... = think that... , or simply the word "the position" itself. - Without the word "on", "position" at that time means "place, location, rank, etc." No meaning will fit, or be clear enough for, the sentence. That is my opinion.

MBAhereIcome · Answer

B omits important information. which 'deficit'? we cannot just assume that it means budget deficit.

srini123 · Answer

IMO B

Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s position in regard to the issue of the budget deficit,  an unanticipated rise  in interest rates  has  occurred.

(A) in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(B) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(C) regarding the budgetary deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(D) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(E) regarding the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rats have

an unanticipated rise  is singular, so we need singular verb  has , we can eliminate C,D,E

A is wordy in that , deficit itself is an issue, we dont need to elaborate it as "issue of the budget deficit"

bidmanager · Answer

B.

165. Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s position in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has occurred.

(A) in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
wordy
(B) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
subject verb agreement (rise...has)
(C) regarding the budgetary deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(D) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(E) regarding the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rats have

rahulsukhija · Answer

Option A, C, and E can be negated just by the unnecessary wordiness, because in regard, regarding are just making the sentence wordy.
We are left with just 2 options B and D and we have to choose between has/have. For that we have to look at the subject and the subject here is  Business Community's uncertainty  which is singular, So out of the 2 I pick B.

bschooladmit · Answer

Went with B.. then changed it

have to remind myself to stick to the rules ;( rise - singular- has.. Only First 2. A is more wordy. Hence B

jagdeepsingh1983 · Answer

position in -when you have vacancies - Position On- when you have some opinion or point of view

rise of interest rates- Singular

So B is the correct one

Desperate123 · Answer

POE - B

Eliminated C,D, and E for using "have"

A is wordy.

B uses the singular verb 'has' ..

maybeam · Answer

yes!
B omits "budget". I had the same doubt. 
How do we know which deficit is it?

Still the official answer is B.

grbjha · Answer

In option "B" Meaning has been changed , because the omition "Budget" 
Then question comes what deficit ..... 
 As original sentence says ..it is to be budget deficit , then it must be maintained in the option too ...
 So I cant agree with B .
 OA is given ,it does not mean that I may not be wrong ever .....

mvictor · Answer

B cannot be correct. what deficit? this is illogical.

AyanamiRei · Answer

OA is B.
Considering the GMAT test-takers' background, it is  common sense  that " deficit " is equal to " U.S. government budget deficit "

daletang · Answer

A) Seems fine to me
B) Position on the deficit…I think it distorted the meaning of the original sentence
C) Have is not the correct verb
D) Have is not the correct verb
E) Same as C and D
Id go with A

Guilio · Answer

blayel,

thanks for pointing this one out. If we have to add the "on" after position, then the use of "in regard to" isn't possible anymore, right?

Like you all discussed, B is a lot cleaner, however I hate the budget issue here. Doubt the GMAT question would ever bring in such "common sense" example. There are different deficits and A makes this clear distinction. In B, the meaning is a lot different than in A, at least for non-US guys, and creating such ambiguity isn't really GMAC's favourite sport.

Mank123 · Answer

Same question as everyone else, how can it be B when it doesn't mention what deficit it is?

mgcon · Answer

Although B is grammatically correct, the meaning of the sentence is inconsistent because the word "budget" is omitted. Are you sure that it is not a typo?

sayantanc2k · Answer

Yes, it seems to be a typo. Such omissions are not expected in the real GMAT.

Arpitkumar · Answer

#MY10SECONDAPPROACH:
singular subject "Rise" in rates will carry singular verb "has" , throws out options C,D & E with "have" as the verb.
Word position comes with conjunction "ON" hence answer option B is the correct answer.

MHIKER · Answer

The verb "has" is required because the subject is "an unanticipated rise" is singular. The answer is B. 
Option A is wordy and awkward. 
C is wordy too. 
D wrong verb "have"
E wrong verb "have".

Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s

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Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s

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