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

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

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.

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.




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



(A) is the 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