Medical experts predict that the number of unnecessary deaths in

Ratio = Fraction , it can be greater than note more than, correct Answer must be (B) for the highlighted errors in other options....
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IMO it's (E).

The subject is 'The number of unnecessary deaths' and then the sentence continues into a conditional 'if' structure.

This is related to the subjunctive: If...were,...would (or vice-versa)
Eg:

If I were smart, I would get into a big school.
I would get in to a big school if I were smarter.

The structure is clearly followed in answer E, so it's right.

EDIT: Clearly, I didn't read the question correctly and jumped into random conclusions.
Apologies, people. I had just studied about the 'subjunctive' before I saw this question so I jumped on it. This is definitely not the way to approach SC questions.
Please disregard my answer above. Thanks.

B should be the right answer

A) is Wrong because it uses plural verb "were" to modify a singular subject "Ratio"
B) is the correct answer
C) is Wrong because it uses "Should" in place of "will".Should is normally used to convey suggestions or imply mandation.He the author is implying a prediction so using "will" be a better choice.
D)is Wrong because it uses More than to modify a fraction.A fraction or percentage can only be greater never more than.
E) is Wrong because it uses More and Numerous,which have a same meaning.So this option has a redundancy issue.

Correct me if i am wrong!

Happy Learning.

IMO B

Meaning: Already a prediction is made, using IF conditional. Since the prediction is made in present followed by IF in present tense..All things should be in present tense.
Usage of WOULD is wrong because Predict has been used before, which already presents an assumption of something

A) will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than ---wrong, SV issue, singular subject RATIO ..to be followed by singular verb

B) will rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is greater than--Correct, SV agree and IF is in present tense

C) should rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities was greater than ---Wrong, Subjunctive is followed by base verb form, and wrong usage of Tense in IF conditional

D) would rise provided the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more than ---wrong, change in meaning

E) would rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more numerous than ---wrong, Would and predict---redundancy

A) will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than
"will rise" if the ration "were" makes no sense. The first one is about a future event and the second one is the ration on which the event is based, so it should not be presented in a past form. Moreover, the ration is the subject of the sentence and "were" does not agree in number with it. Lastly, the ratio can not be "more" numerous, it should be higher or lower, but numerous ratios makes no sense.

B) will rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is greater than
Correct answer, will expresses a sure opinion, something that it is sure to happen. "is" fits perfectly will

C) should rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities was greater than
Same problem of A. Should expresses an event that has not happened yet. It could be used here, but it does not agree with was

D) would rise provided the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more than
Would could be used here, but "provided the ratio...is more than" change the meaning of the sentence, and furthermore is wordy and awkard.

E) would rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more numerous than
Same problem of "numerous" as in A

B is the correct one

The correct usage is "if the ratio of elderly residents" and incorrect usage of resident instead of plural residents leads to elimination of options A and C. For Ratio, "greater than" should be used not "more than" as it a countable entity. Therefore the correct option is B

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generis

I am thinking on the below lines and opting for B as the answer. Please validate.

The experts are predicting in Present (I am talking about present, past, and future) time so would is not correct usage.

Therefore C, D,and E are out .

In option A

A) will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than

We have S-V agreement error.

We are only left with B and therefore B is correct. It passes S-V agreement and the present+will form.

Medical experts predict that the number of unnecessary deaths in nursing homes will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than ten residents for every one staff member.


A) will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than
B) will rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is greater than
C) should rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities was greater than
D) would rise provided the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more than
E) would rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more numerous than

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

• Because of the non-underlined verb predict, this sentence is established in the present tense from the beginning

• Therefore, in option A, the verb were in the underlined portion is in the wrong tense, especially because it's part of a conditional IF clause [see comments and resource link below].

• Eliminate A and any others that repeat the verb error, including C, for the verb was

• Compare the other answer choices

• Choice B corrects the IF/then and the verb error. Keep it.

• The words predict that are typically followed by the simple future tense will. Therefore, eliminate D and E.

• The correct answer is B

COMMENTS

mokiburnsred , welcome!

This opinion is impressionistic only, but conditionals are among the least-studied subjects.

I would recommend that aspirants start HERE, on this site.
That site is among the best I have found on conditionals.
Read every link.
Reading everything should take no more than 20 minutes.
Digesting and understanding the content will take longer than that.

You can search a few test prep sites. This material, though, is typically guarded jealously by prep companies.
You can find short blips about conditionals from the major test prep companies, but they do not cover 20-30% of what I think is needed.

There are five types of conditionals: Zero, Type1, Type 2, Type 3, and Mixed

For NEGATIVE conditionals (unless and if not), see dave13 's post, here..

Thanks, all, for your posts!

Yash312 and warrior1991 wrote the best answers. (warrior1991 , there's your reply to your request for feedback. )Kudos!
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generis Thank you . I got your point.

Meaning: Per medical experts' prediction, if the elder ratio in public facilities is greater than ten residents for every one staff member, then the number of unnecessary deaths in the nursing homes will rise.

Error:
1) Incorrect If..then construction: Since the sentence states medical experts' prediction as fact we will use If simple present, then will (certainty) construction.

2) Incorrect use of more and numerous: since we are comparing ratios we will use greater than.

Answer: B. This choices corrects both the errors in original statement and conveys intended meaning


Medical experts predict that the number of unnecessary deaths in nursing homes will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than ten residents for every one staff member.

Medical experts predict that the number of unnecessary deaths in nursing homes will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than ten residents for every one staff member.


A) will rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities were more numerous than - incorrect if then construction

B) will rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is greater than - correct construction subject WILL, If present tense

C) should rise if the elderly resident ratio in public facilities was greater than - incorrect if then construction

D) would rise provided the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more than - incorrect if then construction

E) would rise if the ratio of elderly residents in public facilities is more numerous than incorrect - if then construction

Thanks generis for the conditional website reference. its crisp yet very clear with useage. Have not seen such collaborated info on forum, though there but scattered. Kudos to your hard work

1) "should" is changing the meaning of the sentence. So we can eliminate C
2) We can create a 2/2 split A&B ; D&E with respect to will and would . Here the sentence is in future tense (predict) so we can eliminate D & E.
3) In option A more numerous is redundant and can be made more concise with greater. Using this we can eliminate option A.

Correct answer is B