alphaseeker
In addition to the boom in tax revenue, the federal government’s books are being helped by lower defense spending, a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, and proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, the automakers that were taken over by Washington in 2009.
(A) are being helped by lower defense spending, a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, and proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, the automakers
(B) have been helped by lower defense spending, a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, and by proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, automakers
(C) have been helped by lower defense spending, a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, and by the automakers
(D) are being helped by lower defense spending, by a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, and proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, the automakers
(E) were helped by lower defense spending and a drop in outlays for benefits like Medicaid, also by proceeds from the sales of General Motors and Chrysler, the automakers
Imo A
This question tests on two concepts 1) Tense
The federal government’s books are being helped by all the factors .It is an ongoing phenomenon so we have to use present continuous tense .
2)There is a list of factors which contribute to the government's books .
So we have to use correct list
By X , Y and Z orBy X, by Y , and by ZAlso there is an absolute modifier at the end of the original sentence that modifies modifies General Motors and Chrysler .
A correct
B List is wrong
C Makes absolute modifier part of the main clause and includes it in the list -clearly wrong .This choice suggests that there were other automobile companies other that the General Motors and Chrysler.
D List is wrong
E Past tense is not required also list is horrible in in E
What marker in this sentence indicates that it is an ongoing phenomenon? Why would the present perfect or even simple past be incorrect?