+HOT Competition 3 Sep/9AM: Charitable donations already a solid part

Experts Global Explanation:

Modifiers + Redundancy

Please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.

A. This answer choice makes no logical sense, as it modifies the noun phrase “more businesses” with the modifying phrase “charitable donations already a solid part of the corporate social responsibility program at many companies”; as this phrase lacks an active verb, it is unclear how it affects the independent clause.

B. This answer choice conveys the logical, intended meaning of the sentence, maintains proper tense use, and is free of awkwardness and redundancy. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

C. This answer choice repeats the error seen in Option A, incorrectly modifying the noun phrase “more businesses” with the phrase “charitable donations as already a solid part of the corporate social responsibility program at many companies”, which does not lead to a meaningful sentence.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb “were” to refer to a statement of universal fact, namely– the existence of charitable donations as “a solid part of the corporate social responsibility program at many companies”; please remember, statements of universal fact are always conveyed in the simple present tense.

E. This answer choice is passive, needlessly wordy, and awkward; please note the usage of “being”, which often triggers a passive, wordy construction– generally rendering a choice incorrect.

B is the best answer choice.