Bunuel wrote:
Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year.
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
I tried answering this question on the basis of logic. Here is how I went about it.
At first I see a 3-2 split at the beginning of the sentence.
[mandate v/s have a mandate]If we say, State constitutions now have a mandate, it somewhat implies that the constitution has been mandated by something or someone.
That seems to be quite illogical as
constitution can mandate but cannot be mandated So, option D and option E are quite simply eliminated using the above logical perspective.
Next if we take (C), we can eliminate it on the basis of tense used 'will'. If we have mandated something how can we use the future tense 'will'. Think about it!
Next if we take (B), here the part
'mandate the state budget' literally means that the consitution is
mandating the state budget to do something, which is illogical.
Only we are left with the correct option (A).
Most state constitutions now
mandate that the state budget be balanced each year
Here meaning seems to be quite clear.
Some constitutions mandate to do something. -> What does it mandate ? ->
It mandates that ....
state budget be balanced each yearHence clearly A is the best choice of the lot. _________________
Regards,
AD
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An admiration by anybody is an explanation understood by somebody !!! Happy GMATing... Go Nuts