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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
ps_dahiya wrote:
One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to
lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition, 2003Practice QuestionQuestion No.: SC 201
Page: 685
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 11th Edition, 2005Practice QuestionQuestion No.: SC 132
Page: 659
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates, a lowering of fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Grammatical Construction + Parallelism + Awkwardness/Redundancy• The "comma + conjunction" construction is used to join the last element in a list with the other elements; the other elements are all linked through commas.
• All elements in a list must be parallel.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the "comma + conjunction ("as well as" in this sentence)" construction to join the first and second elements of a list with more than two elements - "lowering interest rates" and "lowering fears about inflation"; remember, the "comma + conjunction" construction is used to join the last element in a list with the other elements; the other elements are all linked through commas. Further, Option A uses the needlessly indirect and wordy construction "lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: This answer choice uses the phrase "and of fears about inflation", conveying the intended meaning - that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates and
a lowering of fears about inflation. Further, Option B maintains parallelism among "a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation", "a rally in stocks and bonds" and "a weakening of the dollar". Additionally, Option B correctly uses the "comma + conjunction ("and" in this case)" construction to link the last element in a list with more than two elements to the rest of the list. Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "along with fears about inflation"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates and lead to
fears about inflation; the intended meaning is that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates and
a lowering of fears about inflation. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the "comma + conjunction ("along with" in this sentence)" construction to join the first and second elements of a list with more than two elements - "lowering of interest rates" and "fears about inflation"; remember, the "comma + conjunction" construction is used to join the last element in a list with the other elements; the other elements are all linked through commas.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "along with fears about inflation"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates and lead to
fears about inflation; the intended meaning is that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to a lowering of interest rates and
a lowering of fears about inflation. Further, Option D fails to maintain parallelism among "interest rates being lowered", "fears about inflation", "a rally in stocks and bonds", and "a weakening of the dollar"; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel. Additionally, Option D uses the passive construction "interest rates being lowered", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism among "interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered", "a rally in stocks and bonds", and "a weakening of the dollar"; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel. Additionally, Option E uses the passive construction "interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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