Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
BillyZ wrote:
The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect the success of both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep down profits for multinational companies
(A) reflect the success of both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep
(B) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping
(C) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent of poor currency exchange rates keeping
(D) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping
(E) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rages are keeping
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Parallelism• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
A:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "both its restructured global bottling system and the extent"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the success its restructured global bottling system and
the success of the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies; the intended meaning is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and
the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.
B: Correct.1/ This answer choice uses the phrase "both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which", conveying the intended meaning - that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and
the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.
2/ Option C maintains parallelism between A ("the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("the extent to which...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B".
C:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "the extent of poor currency exchange rates"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the extent of
those poor currency exchange rates that are keeping down profits for multinational companies; the intended meaning is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the extent
to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.
D:1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B"; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
E:1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B"; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team