Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
bigoyal wrote:
With only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.
(A) With
(B) As
(C) Being
(D) Despite having
(E) Although accounting for
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 United States citizens comprise only 5 percent of the world's population, but they consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.
Concepts tested here: MeaningA: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "With only 5 percent of the world's population"; the use of "With" illogically implies that United States citizens
posses only 5 percent of the world's population; the intended meaning is that United States citizens
comprise only 5 percent of the world's population.
B: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "As only 5 percent of the world's population"; the use of "As" illogically implies that
in their role as only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do; the intended meaning is that United States citizens comprise only 5 percent of the world's population,
but they consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.
C: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Being only 5 percent of the world's population"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that United States citizens comprise only 5 percent of the world's population,
so they consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do; the intended meaning is that United States citizens comprise only 5 percent of the world's population,
but they consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.
D: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Despite having only 5 percent of the world's population"; the use of "having" illogically implies that United States citizens
posses only 5 percent of the world's population; the intended meaning is that United States citizens
comprise only 5 percent of the world's population.
E: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "Although accounting for only 5 percent of the world's population", conveying the intended meaning - that United States citizens
comprise only 5 percent of the world's population,
but they consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team