Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class re

THE PROMPT

→ What was or what were passed in 1943?
→ The introductory phrase is a noun modifier; whatever follows immediately should be the noun that the phrase modifies.

THE OPTIONS

• rents were not passed in 1943
• having remained is not a working verb but rather an adjective that describes rents.
→ The sentence is incomplete without a working verb.
• the existence of is redundant
Eliminate A


• rents were not passed in 1943.
Eliminate B


• rents were not passed in 1943
• the existence of is wordy and redundant
Eliminate C


• some New York City apartments were not passed in 1943
Eliminate D

E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades[/quote]
• Bingo: rent control laws were passed in 1943
• the sentence contains a working verb (have kept) and is clear

The answer is E

COMMENTS

You will not see a GMAT question that is this easy, but I wanted to show you a stark example of what GMAT tests so frequently: introductory noun modifiers.
If you follow the rule that an introductory noun modifier must be followed immediately by its noun, usually you will find at least two, sometimes even three, options that contain a noun that makes no sense with the modifier.

Jitendra2020 , welcome to SC Butler.

Kudos to everyone. Stay safe.

"Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents" the phrase is modifying something that is passed in 1943 and is been used to make housing affordable for all.

Out of all options only Rent control laws in the E option justifies the noun which is meant to be modified by the previous phrase.
Rest options are stating Rent and new york city appartment as noun which is illogical by meaning.

Answer is E

Posted from my mobile device
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E - Because it is not logical to say rents/new york city apartments are passed, whereas passed should refer to the rent control law. (Corrections welcome)
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IMO-E
Passed 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents, -in this clause passed is the modfier which will modify a noun which is related with the law

A) rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws.. Passed is wrongly modifying to Rent

B) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because rent control laws exist. -Passed is wrongly modifying to Rent- incorrect

C) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because of the existence of rent control laws-Passed is wrongly modifying to Rent-incorrect

D) some New York City apartments have rents that have remained stable for decades as a result of rent control laws-Passed is wrongly modifying to Some New York apartment-incorrect

E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades - correct

Posted from my mobile device

Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents, rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws.

E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades

->Passed in 1943......., rent control laws ( Only option E properly conveys the meaning. What was passed in 1943? The relevant answer is rent control laws. So, that's the answer.)
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My answer is (E). It took me 16 seconds.

Modifier “Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents” must be compatible with the subject of the main clause. Specifically, for past participle "passed", the subject of the main clause should be the logical object of "pass".

As only "rent control laws" can be "passed", (E) is the only acceptable option.

Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents, rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws.

A) rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PASSED THAT IS RENT IS NOT CORRECT
INCORRECT CHOICE

B) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because rent control laws exist
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PASSED THAT IS RENT IS NOT CORRECT
INCORRECT CHOICE

C) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because of the existence of rent control laws
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PASSED THAT IS RENT IS NOT CORRECT
INCORRECT CHOICE



D) some New York City apartments have rents that have remained stable for decades as a result of rent control laws
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PASSED- SOME NEW YORK CITY APARTMENTS IS NOT CORRECT
INCORRECT CHOICE


E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PASSED THAT IS RENT CONTROL LAWS- CORRECT CHOICE

Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents, rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws.

A) rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws ----->Incorrect.Modifier issue rents can't be passed in 1943

B) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because rent control laws exist--->Incorrect. Modifer issue, same as in choice A

C) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because of the existence of rent control laws --->Incorrect. Same modifier mistake as i choice A

D) some New York City apartments have rents that have remained stable for decades as a result of rent control laws ---> Incorrect. Modifier issue. new york city apartments can't be passed in 1943

E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades ----> Correct

Passed in 1943 in order to make housing affordable for middle-class residents, rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws.

A) rents for some New York City apartments having remained stable for decades because of the existence of rent control laws

B) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because rent control laws exist

C) rents for some New York City apartments have remained stable because of the existence of rent control laws

D) some New York City apartments have rents that have remained stable for decades as a result of rent control laws

E) rent control laws have kept rents for some New York City apartments stable for decades


POE -

A, B, C & D - eliminate

'Passed in 1943' - what passed in 1943?;
it must be 'rent control laws', not 'rents ' or 'some New York City apartments'

so answer - E
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