One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imp

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 153: Sentence Correction (SC2) 
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One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imported into 2005, the American economy's  Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop  given that the scale runs from zero to one.

A) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

B) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality, falls to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

C) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—will fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

D) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—will fall to 0.34 from 0.43, dropping considerably

E) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality, would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considered drop

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The words IF . . WERE in the non-underlined portion indicate a    hypothetical statement.  
 
The construction follows a standard form.
  • IF...WERE requires WOULD FALL
• If X were to happen, then Y would happen.

IF clause = simple past → if   were

MAIN clause = present conditional (would fall, would rise, would drop)
-- "present conditional" =
would/could + bare infinitive

The non-underlined portion commits us to   if  marriage patterns of 1960  were  imported 
The result or main clause should say that the Gini coefficient  would fall

• 20 second answer

Split #1: IF . . WERE requires WOULD FALL. 
Eliminate B (falls), C (will fall), and D (will fall)

• Split #2: considerable or considered? 
Option A: A considerable drop is a big drop. 
Option E: A considered drop is a well-reasoned or carefully thought out drop.

The drop is big. The drop is not well-reasoned. Eliminate E.

Answer A

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

THE PROMPT

THE OPTIONS

• If . .. WERE is correctly paired with WOULD + FALL (bare infinitive)
-- Bare infinitive? The regular infinitive is TO FALL. Simply remove the word "to." The bare infinitive = FALL
• considerable means  large  or  significant.  The decrease would be a big decrease.
• everything seems fine 
KEEP

•   falls   is incorrect.  if . . . were  should be paired with  would fall .
• commas rather than em dashes? That difference makes no difference in this case. We use em dashes for emphasis or clarity—or sometimes just to break up a long sentence, but em dashes are rarely  necessary . The commas are fine.
ELIMINATE B

•   will fal l  is incorrect.  would fall  is needed.
In addition, only  one  kind of conditional takes simple future: Type 1. 
-- See the footnote. 
-- Type 1 conditionals are not theoretical. They are based on actual conditions. They are not theorizing about counterfactual possibilities. 
• The construction is not a Type 1. That kind of conditional is based on actual facts and uses simple present tense in the IF clause— not past tense, and not subjunctive construction
Eliminate C

•   will fall   should be  would fall 
• also resembles but is not a Type 1 conditional
•  dropping considerably  is fine. It means decreasing significantly. 
-- the phrase is a comma + participle (verbING) structure and thus modifies the preceding clause. 
-- the other sentences contain appositives (noun phrases, in this case) at the end of the sentence.
-- this option uses a modifier rather than an appositive. That usage is fine. The meaning is the same.

• considered is incorrect. It means well-reasoned or thoughtful. 
At trial, the psychiatric expert presented her considered opinion of the defendant's state of mind. 
The drop is not thoughtful. Or well-reasoned. 
Eliminate E.

The answer is A

COMMENTS

I am impressed by a few of these answers! 
I like to read about different approaches and different thought processes. 
I also like to see your personality come out. Very nicely done.

Kudos to those who explained.

**VERY condensed  summary of conditionals

Zero conditional : If THIS thing happens, THAT thing happens.
-- general truths
-- IF simple present, THEN simple present
-- situation is real and possible. True now and always.

Type 1 : If THIS thing happens, THAT thing will happen
-- statements in the present made about the future and about real things
-- IF simple present, THEN simple future
-- condition is real, outcome ("truth") is very probable

Type 2 : If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would happen
--  If you left the house earlier, then you would be on time for the bus. 
(But you did not leave the house earlier.)

Type 2 : If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would be happening
-- If I understood the joke, I would be laughing. (But I don't understand the joke, so I am not laughing.)

Type 2 :  If THIS thing were to happen, then THAT thing would happen 
--  If antitrust laws were enforced properly, then oligopolies would not control entire sectors of the economy.  
-- hypothetical (theoretical) statements NOT based on what is actual. Counterfactual, unreal, imaginary (hypothetical)
-- IF simple past, THEN present conditional (or present continuous conditional)
-- condition is not real. Time is always

Type 3 : If THIS thing had happened, then THAT thing would have happened. (But neither thing happened.)
-- IF past perfect, THEN perfect conditional (would + have + verbED)
-- If they had cooperated better, then they would have finished their project on time. (But they didn't cooperate, and they didn't finish on time.)
-- statements about the unreal past and probable result (often statements of regret or missed opportunity)
-- unreal past condition, probable result in the past that is also unreal (the result did not happen)

Mixed conditiona l: If THIS thing had happened, then THAT thing would happen
-- IF is in the past, THEN is in the present (present result of a past action) 
-- If past perfect, THEN present conditional (just as in Type 2)
-- time is an event in the past, result is ongoing  
--  If I had taken the Series 7, I would be a stockbroker.  (But I didn't take the tests and I am not a stockbroker.)
(Mixed conditionals have many variations. I've just listed what seems to be the most common type.)

bartk · Answer

Hey, so we're dealing here with conditional sentences.

The sentence presents a hypothetical situation and its probable result.

In order to correctly convey the message, we need to use construction:  if + past simple, ...would + infinitive.

Let's scan through the answer choices:

(A) "If the marriage patterns of 1960  were imported  into 2005, the American economy's Gini coefficient  would fall ."

Looks good. No other issues.

(B) "  Gini coefficient  falls  to 0.34 from 0.43  "

Nah, it's not what we are looking for.

(C) "   will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43  "

Again, we need "would", not future simple.

(D) "   will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43  "

Same as (C). Cross it off.

(E) "   would fall  to 0.34 from 0.43  "

Okay, so we need now to compare (A) with (E).

Except for dashes vs. commas thing, the only difference between them is the "considerable" vs. "considered". We want to say that if we imported these patterns, the coefficient would fall BIGLY (when I'm writing this, I hear little Trump in my head saying that word). The key is to understand the meaning differences between these two words: "considered" means thoughtful, reasoned, deliberate, but "considerable" means significant, substantial, BIG. Of course, the sentence doesn't want to say that drop was thoughtful (because all kinds of drops usually aren't very thoughtful), so we need to go with "considerable". Hence, the correct answer is (A).

Annet1524 · Answer

One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imported into 2005, the American economy's Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop given that the scale runs from zero to one.

A) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop  correct answer

B) Gini coefficient , the standard measure of income inequality,  falls to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop - wrong punctuation

C) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop - not real situation, should be would

D) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, dropping considerably - not real situation, should be would

E) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality, would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a  considered  drop wrong modification

ahabib · Answer

A) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

Looks good.

B) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality,  falls  to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop
 
Conditional verb tenses must match..

Imported  (in the non-underlined portion) is past tense, so the conditional should be

If the marriage patterns were  imported  the Gini coefficient  would  fall.

C) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop
 
Same as (B)

D) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, dropping considerably
 
Same as (B)

E) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality, would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a  considered  drop

"A Considered drop" changes the meaning / Doesn't make sense

kunaldutt15 · Answer

Option A is correct.

Would/could is the correct verb form for a simple past "if" usage.

J2S2019 · Answer

IMO correct answer is A.

A Hypothetical situation demands the usage of "would" so this question is a straight forward 2/3 split between A/E and B/C/D.

In E, the use of "a considered drop " - wrong modification, awkward usage & can be discarded.
Suitable answer choice is A.

One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imported into 2005, the American economy's Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop given that the scale runs from zero to one.

A) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop -  Correct

B) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality,  falls  to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

C) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop

D) Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality— will fall  to 0.34 from 0.43, dropping considerably

E) Gini coefficient, the standard measure of income inequality, would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a  considered  drop

TheNightKing · Answer

Here is my approach. Initial 5 seconds to skim through first and last word of the underlined sentence and option choices. Split#1 Comma vs Dash Since the author is trying to define the term GC, the usage of Dash is appropriate. Eliminate B and E. Option D uses the modifier dropping which is not correct here. You can modify the entire defintion since there is no other clause that it can modify. Option B (and D) uses the helping verb will. It is future tense but it shows 100% certainty of something happening and that is not the case here. A is a good option as it is.

IMO A.

pielkay · Answer

Hello,

Option A is  CORRECT , and here is my attempt to explain why. Let us start by deconstructing the sentence and figuring out the meaning, before getting into the options.

Sentence:  One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imported into 2005, the American economy's  Gini coefficient—the standard measure of income inequality—would fall to 0.34 from 0.43, a considerable drop  given that the scale runs from zero to one.

Meaning:  The sentence is basically telling us the  possible  result of a study that has been conducted. Note that this result need not necessarily be a fact. Keeping this in mind, we're looking for an answer option which tells us that  if  the marriage patterns of 1960 were imported into 2005, there  would  be a decrease in the Gini coefficient.

The em dash is perfectly used to explain what the Gini coefficient is, and the usage of the verb phrase 'would fall' tells us that this is a possible result of the given study. This option perfectly matches with our deconstruction of the meaning, so let's hold this one and review the other options.

Here, we have a correct modifying phrase for the Gini coefficient, BUT, falls to 0.34 from 0.43? 3rd person usage of 'falls' here is unnecessary.  INCORRECT.

Hmm. Looks okay at first, but 'will fall'? The result is merely a prediction, and predictions aren't facts. We can't say for sure that it will fall. It might fall, it might not.  INCORRECT.

Same as above, but coupled with the fact that we don't need a gerund here. The sentence wants to say that the drop to 0.34 from 0.43 is of a considerable margin, and this doesn't tell us that.  INCORRECT.

A rather funny one. A considered drop amongst who exactly? Easily the first candidate for elimination had it not been the last option.  INCORRECT.

Option A stands and is  CORRECT .

Hope this helps!

--
Pritam

generis · Answer

I have posted the official explanation  HERE

saukrit · Answer

Only fight was between A and E ( B,C,D wrong for various other obvious reasons) Both use of --(dash pair) or ,, (comma pair) is correct in A and E. The only difference in the  considered  in Option E, which one is likely to miss in a exam like setting and fall for the conventional trap.

Why B,C and D are wrong

we have If Condition, then Outcome construction here. If then costrcution need to follow following rules, which are clearly violated in B,C and E

Only following tenses allowed in If-then Construction   
   If Clause Tense    Then Clause Tense    Usage   
  Simple Present  Simple Preset  fact/habit  
  Simple Present  Simple Future  certainity  
  Simple Present  Simple Future  possibility  
  Simple Past  Simple Past  fact/habit  
  Simple Past  would verb  unlikely even  
  Past Perfect  would have verb  Event not occured

jfjahfnkjahbfkjds · Answer

1) There are 3 possibilities for if clause
type------------- if-clause ---------- main clause
1----------- Simple Present---------- will-future
2----------- Simple Past--------- would + infinitive
3----------- Past Perfect--------- would + have + past participle
Here it is simple past . So we can eliminate  B, C & D .
 The answer is  A

VerbalBot · Answer

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One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imp

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Only following tenses allowed in If-then Construction
If Clause Tense	Then Clause Tense	Usage
Simple Present	Simple Preset	fact/habit
Simple Present	Simple Future	certainity
Simple Present	Simple Future	possibility
Simple Past	Simple Past	fact/habit
Simple Past	would verb	unlikely even
Past Perfect	would have verb	Event not occured

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

One study has indicated that if the marriage patterns of 1960 were imp

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