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sudarshan22

Project SC Butler: Day 39: Sentence Correction (SC1)


For SC butler Questions Click Here
Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were still about 50 percent greater than the rate of price increases for other items included in the consumer price index.

(A) Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were

(B) Inflation in medical costs slowed for the fifth consecutive year in 1986 but was

(C) In 1986 inflation in medical costs were slowed for the fifth consecutive year but were

(D) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year in which inflation in medical costs slowed but was

(E) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year that inflation in medical costs were slowed, but they


Correct OA should be B
Read the sentence carefully, inflation is the subject here,2nd part of statement is talking about inflation


a) Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were -A is wrong as inflation is singular , use of were is incorrect here

(B) Inflation in medical costs slowed for the fifth consecutive year in 1986 but was- B is correct here

(C) In 1986 inflation in medical costs were slowed for the fifth consecutive year but were-use of were is incorrect, so c is out

(D) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year in which inflation in medical costs slowed but was ,modifier error as 1986 was , distorts the original meaning of sentence

(E) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year that inflation in medical costs were slowed, but they
were -again modifier error, incorrect placement of inflation


The best/excellent answers get kudos. There can be no best answer, or a few excellent answers!
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Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were still about 50 percent greater than the rate of price increases for other items included in the consumer price index.

(A) Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were

(B) Inflation in medical costs slowed for the fifth consecutive year in 1986 but was

(C) In 1986 inflation in medical costs were slowed for the fifth consecutive year but were

(D) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year in which inflation in medical costs slowed but was

(E) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year that inflation in medical costs were slowed, but they
were

Inflation is singular, so the word "but" should be followed by was. Eliminate (A), (C), and (E)
(D) is saying the year "1986" was still about 50 percent greater. This is incorrect

(B) is your answer, Inflation slowed ... but was

Ans: (B)
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(A) Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were

(B) Inflation in medical costs slowed for the fifth consecutive year in 1986 but was

(C) In 1986 inflation in medical costs were slowed for the fifth consecutive year but were

(D) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year in which inflation in medical costs slowed but was : here subject of "was" is year there wrong

(E) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year that inflation in medical costs were slowed, but they
were
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Official Explanation :

Correct answer choice should have "Subject-verb Agreement + Logical " construct.
Since, “Inflation” is singular, therefore, singular verb “was” will be used for it.

Hence, choice A, C, and E are incorrect because “were” violates subject-verb agreement.

Choice D, incorrectly suggests that “medical costs” slowed, and stating is not true, because “inflation” slowed instead.

Choice B is the best option, because it states “Inflation slowed but was…” and maintains subject-verb agreement.
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sudarshan22
Official Explanation :

Choice A is incorrect because have cannot function as the auxiliary of live; i.e., have live is ungrammatical.

Choice B, which substitutes did for have, is correct and logically places the parents' action in the past.

In choice C and D, had places the parents' action in the past but is wrong as an auxiliary, just as have is in A.

Choices D and E are faulty because neither is the independent clause that is needed to complete a grammatical sentence.

sudarshan22 - It seems that the above OE is of a different question.
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Skywalker18
sudarshan22 - It seems that the above OE is of a different question.
Skywalker18 keyword search can be dubious at times :? , if that covers the blunder :( .

Thank you for spotting and helping me rectify the issue. :) :thumbup:
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“Inflation” is singular; therefore, singular verb “was” will be used for it.
Hence, A, C, and E are incorrect because “were” violates subject-verb agreement.
D: Incorrectly suggests that “medical costs” slowed. Actually “inflation” slowed.
B: “Inflation slowed but was…” maintains subject-verb agreement. Hence, B is the answer.
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can anyone explain me how Choice D, incorrectly suggests that “medical costs” slowed whereas its correct in choice B?

I think, option D is wrong because it can be more concisely written as option B; and 1986 becomes the subject of portion after the underline part (were still about 50 percent greater than the rate of price increases for other items included in the consumer price index)?

Please explain VeritasKarishma GMATNinja GMATNinjatwo
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Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were still about 50 percent greater than the rate of price increases for other items included in the consumer price index.

(A) Inflation in medical costs slowed in 1986 for the fifth consecutive year but were

(B) Inflation in medical costs slowed for the fifth consecutive year in 1986 but was :thumbsup:

(C) In 1986 inflation in medical costs were slowed for the fifth consecutive year but were

(D) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year in which inflation in medical costs slowed but was [meaning error: 1986 was still about 50 %]

(E) 1986 was the fifth consecutive year that inflation in medical costs were slowed, but they were
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