Most professional observers believe that despite the increasing popula

This question is based on Subject-Verb agreement and Construction.

A vertical scan of the options shows us that Options A, B, and C are similarly worded.

Option A contains a subject-verb disagreement. The plural verb ‘seem’ does not agree with the singular subject ‘the financial success’. So, Option A can be eliminated.

Option B contains a pronoun reference error. The pronoun ‘them’ is vague as it does not have a clear antecedent. It cannot refer to the singular noun ‘the weekly magazine’. So, Option B can be eliminated.

Option C corrects the errors of both the above-mentioned options. So, it is the best of all the options.

Option D has a clumsy structure. The clause “this is despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources” is misplaced. The sentence has a comma splice because it has two independent clauses separated by a comma. So, Option D can be eliminated.

Option E contains a tense error. The verb in the simple past tense – seemed – is not consistent with the verb in the non-underlined portion of the sentence – believe. Furthermore, in this option also, the modifier “despite…..sources” is awkwardly placed. So, Option E can be eliminated.

Option C maintains subject-verb agreement. The modifier is also appropriately placed in this option. Therefore, C is the best option.

Jayanthi Kumar.

This question is a very good example committing mistakes because of a little lapse in concentration. Option B and C are very very similar, except for one word.

One thing that can be helpful is to compare the sentence parts with each other. Option B and C take up the exact same amount of text space with gaps in the exact same areas till around the AT LEAST part. It may be easier to recognize which parts of sentences are identical to each other leveraging this.

Most professional observers believe that despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources, the financial success (subject) of the weekly magazine–or at least some of the weekly magazines–seem secure for some time to come.


A. that despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources, the financial success of the weekly magazine–or at least some of the weekly magazines–seem (SVA error) secure for some time to come

Success is singular and needs a singular verb.

B. that, despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources, the financial success of the weekly magazine–or at least some of them–seems secure for some time to come

C. that, despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources, the financial success of the weekly magazine–or at least some of the weekly magazines–seems secure for some time to come
The only difference between B and C is the use of them. GMAT always prefers to repeat the noun and to make the sentence as clear as possible. Also in Option B - them (plural) cannot refer to the magazine (singular) so it will refer to sources which is incorrect. C eliminates this error by saying weekly magazines.

D. that the financial success of the weekly magazine–or at least some of the weekly magazines–seems secure for some time to come, this is despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources - misplaced modifier error. Construction is much better in B and C.

E. that the financial success of the weekly magazine–or at least some of the weekly magazines– seemed secure for some time to come, despite the increasing popularity of new, digital information sources
Option E: changes the verb from seem to seemed. This sentence is making a prediction about the future, so using the past tense seemed is incorrect. You need to use the present tense seems.