Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
Heating oil and natural gas futures rose sharply yesterday, as long-term forecasts for much colder temperatures in key heating regions raised fears of insufficient supplies capable of meeting the demand this winter.
(A) of insufficient supplies capable of meeting
(B) of supplies that would be insufficient for meeting
(C) of insufficient supplies that are unable to meet
(D) that there would be supplies insufficient for meeting
(E) that supplies would be insufficient to meet
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that long-term forecasts for much colder temperatures in key heating regions raised fears regarding supplies being insufficient to meet the demand this winter.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• For referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”).
• The simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
A: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase “fear of insufficient supplies”, incorrectly conveying that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding the
supplies, themselves, that would be insufficient for meeting the demand this winter; the intended meaning is that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding supplies
being insufficient to meet the demand this winter.
B: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase “fear of supplies that would be insufficient”, incorrectly conveying that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding the
supplies, themselves that are
both inadequate and incapable of meeting te demand this winter; the intended meaning is that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding supplies
being insufficient to meet the demand this winter. Further, Option B uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “meeting”) phrase “for meeting” to refer to the intent behind the action “be insufficient”; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”).
C: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase “fear of insufficient supplies that are unable", incorrectly conveying that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding
supplies, themselves that are
both inadequate and incapable of meeting demand this winter; the intended meaning is that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding supplies
being insufficient to
meet the demand this winter. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “are” to refer to an action that will take place in the future; remember, the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
D: This answer choice uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “meeting”) phrase “for meeting” to refer to the intent behind the action “be insufficient”; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”). Further, Option D uses the passive and needlessly indirect construction “there would be supplies insufficient”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase “fears that supplies would be insufficient to meet”, conveying the intended meaning – that the long-term forecasts raised fears regarding supplies
being insufficient to
meet the demand this winter. Further, Option E correctly uses the simple future tense verb “would be” to refer to an action that will take place in the future. Additionally, Option E uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + meet” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “would be insufficient”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Infinitives" versus "Present Participle" on GMAT you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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