According to some real estate experts, the May increase in new housing

Can i get an expert analysis on this one ?

option A and B are incorrect because of use of ' so ... that ' which suggests intent or purpose
option C uses would which leads to unnecessary past tense usage and so this is also incorrect
option D uses ' to a two - year high point '.It changes the degree of comparision and thus incorrect
option E is the correct answer

A & B , so that is just to talk about purpose behind the activity .
Since, the increase in the housing market doesn't happen intentionally or purposefully . It is just an event that has its implications mentioned in the sentence .

So that is wrong here ...

Since we are talking in present tense , would usage is wrong .

Btw D and E

D suggests there were many high points of the increases and this increase is just matching one of those high points .... non sensible

Thus , E is best option among all .

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Can someone please explain this one ? The meaning that the sentence wants to convey in itself is confusing me.

Hi Pranjal3107,

Tried to explain the meaning. Hope this helps.

According to some real estate experts, the May increase in new housing starts so that it was the highest in two years suggests that the current high prices for lumber and construction supplies will be maintained in the near term.

If we break this sentence,

According to some real estate experts, - what follows is according to some experts
, the May increase in new housing starts - The increase in new housing starts that happened in May
so that it was the highest in two years ( Does not make sense - the increase did not happen so that it was the highest in two years : May be the increase was the highest in two years)
suggests that the current high prices for lumber and construction supplies will be maintained in the near term. This increase suggests the current high price will be maintained

Now let check the answers:

A. so that it was the highest in two years : Incorrect : "So that" is wrong as discussed ( the increase did not happen because it was the highest in two years)
B. so that it was the highest two-year pace : Incorrect :Same as A
C. to what would be the highest in two years : Incorrect :Here the implied meaning is that the increase was the highest in two years, using would is wrong
D. to a two-year high point : Incorrect : "two year high point" could mean many thing - ambiguous and not as good as E
E. to the highest level in two years : Correct and the most efficient way to convey the intended meaning

Thank you for taking out the time !!!!!

I think the main difference between D & E is "a two year high point" and "the highest level"
'a' in option D means that there are other high points. 'the' in option E means it is the highest (superlative)

So, the answer is E

GMATNinja we need your expertise on this question good sir