aaron22197
Despite an expensive publicity campaign, ticket sales for the new play were
poor enough that it closed only after two weeks.
(A) poor enough that it closed only after two weeks
(B) poor enough that it was closed after only two weeks
(C) so poor that it closed only after two weeks
(D) so poor that it was closed after only two weeks
(E) so poor that only after two weeks it closed
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The original sentence contains the words "poor
enough that it closed..." However, "[Adjective]
enough that [Clause]" is an incorrect idiomatic form. The proper idiom with a clause is "
so [Adjective]
that [Clause]." In this case, the sentence should read "
so poor
that..."
In addition, the placement of "only" is incorrect. "
Only"
should be placed immediately before the word it modifies. In this case, "
only" modifies "
two weeks," so it should be placed immediately before "
two weeks."
Also, note that every choice contains the word "
it" (which refers to "
the new play," the topic if not the grammatical subject of the sentence). Thus, pronouns are not an issue in this problem.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The idiom "X enough to Y" should be replaced with "so X that Y," and the word "only" should be directly in front of the time phrase it modifies, "two weeks."
(C) The word "only" should be directly in front of the time phrase it modifies: "two weeks."
(D) CORRECT. This proper idiom "
so X that Y" is used, and the word "
only" comes directly
in front of the time phrase it modifies, "
two weeks."
(E) As in choice (C), the word "only" should be directly in front of the time phrase it modifies: "two weeks."