Bunuel wrote:
In the United States, less than $200 per capita is spent by the government each year to support arts and cultural institutions, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, although the amount in European countries is much greater.
(A) In the United States, less than $200 per capita is spent by the government each year to support arts and cultural institutions, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, although the amount in European countries is much greater.
Not incorrect, but an odd word choice.
(B) The United States government spends less than $200 per capita annually supporting arts and cultural institutions, like the National Endowment for the Arts, although European countries spend a much greater amount.
(C) Although European countries spend a much greater amount, in the United States, the government spends annually fewer than
$200 per capita to support arts and cultural institutions, including the National Endowment for the Arts.
(D) Arts and cultural institutions, like the National Endowment for the Arts, are supported by the United States government spending less than $200 per capita each year, although the amount in European countries is much greater.
(E) Although European countries spend a greater amount , the United States government annually spends fewer than $200 per capita to support arts and cultural institutions, such as the National Endowment for the Arts.
The introductory prepositional phrase in option A is fine.
At least five types of introductory phrases must modify the subject that follows.
An introductory prepositional phrase does not have to modify the subject that follows.See
this post, here, in which the five types mentioned and introductory prepositional phrases are explained.
Split #1: less v. fewerMoney, distance, and time (and uncountable nouns) always use MORE/LESS
-- One way to remember — if you see $200, think 200
dollars.
Then change
dollar to
money. One money, two moneys, three moneys. No.
Correct: I have less money than she has.
Correct: I have twenty dollars less than she has.
Correct: I have $20 less than she has.
Wrong: I have $20
fewer than she has.
Wrong: I have
fewer than $20 in my pocket.
Options C and E use "fewer" than $200. Eliminate them.
Split #2: Like vs. Such As-- To introduce examples, use SUCH AS.
-- How to remember?
Alex, when you go to the grocery store, please buy me some vegetables like carrots and broccoli. -- Am I asking Alex to buy me vegetables that are
similar to carrots and broccoli? =>
Alex, please buy me some vegetables [that are] like carrots and broccoli. -- Or am I asking Alex to buy me vegetables
named "carrot" and "broccoli"?
--
Avoid ambiguity. Do not use
like to list or to introduce examples. Use "such as."
Alex, please buy me some vegetables such as carrots and broccoli.Options B and D use "like" to introduce
The National Endowment of the Arts as an example of
arts and cultural institutionsEliminate options B and D.
Option A correctly uses
• less than $200
• such as the National Endowment . . .
• "In the United States" is correct. See my note and link at the top of this answer.
Option A
Other issues• "comma + including" in option C is fine.
Including is an exception to the rules for comma + ___ING (participial phrases)
Including is always followed by a noun or noun-form; major dictionaries define it as a preposition
• Comparison in E is not parallel.
European countries are compared to the
U.S. government. A country is not a government.
• Option D needs the possessive case for the noun, government, before what is a gerund and yet another noun, namely,
spendingThis issue is difficult and it is tested occasionally in harder questions.
This post addresses the issue, as does
this postArts and cultural institutions . . . are supported by THE U.S. government's spending [OF] less than $200 per capita . . .
Correct: I appreciate
your inviting me.
Wrong: I appreciate
you inviting me.
• Option D has this structure: X is supported
by Y's spending less than $200 per person a year.
"By" in this case illogically implies "because."
Option D sounds as if the arts are supported by the fact that the U.S. government spends LESS than $200 per capita.
By spending [Because it spends] LESS than $200 per capita, the U.S. government supports the arts . . .