Since 1993, when it passed a referendum approving casino gambling, the

Question

Since 1993, when it passed a referendum  approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, was using  casino tax revenue to improve its streets, sewers, buildings, and other public works.

A. approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, was using
B. for the approving of casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri,has used
C. approved casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, has used
D. approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, has used
E. approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, was to be using

chetan2u · Answer

Hi..

Points to consider..
1) 'it' should have a proper antecedent. All choices follow it.
2) approving is a present participle and would modify preceding noun 'a referendum'.
3) usage of SINCE tells us that it's an ongoing event and therefore would require present perfect HAS

Ans is D

ydmuley · Answer

Since 1993, when it passed a referendum  approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, was using  casino tax revenue to improve its streets, sewers, buildings, and other public works.

A. approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri,  was using 
B.  for the approving of  casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, has used
C.  approved   casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri, has used
D.  approving  casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri,  has used 
E. approving casino gambling, the town of Riverside, Missouri,  was to be using

As the sentence starts with "Since" usage of "was" will not be accurate, it should be "has"

Also, referendum approving ...... is correct usage

IMO - D

Bombsante · Answer

The sentence tests use of tense. The intended meaning is that after the referendum was passed the town started using casino tax for x purpose and this is still in force.
Therefore, A & E can be ruled out. In choices B "for the approving of" is unidiomatic.
Choice C can be eliminated for using "approved". Choice D is the final answer.

NNDD · Answer

As the sentence starts with since, present perfect is needed, A & E eliminated
We need a modifier after 'referendum' therefore "for the approving and "approved" are wrong

D is the correct answer

NDND · Answer

First decision point is the verb tense, "Since" in the beginning of the sentence indicates that the action is still continuing in the present which means we need present perfect tense ==> Eliminate A&E

"approving Casino gambling" modifies "referendum" therefore it cannot be "for the approving" or " approved" as it needs -ing modifier B&C are eliminated

D is the correct answer

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

D.

The sentence contains two different actions (passing the referendum and improving streets, sewers, and so on), so the verb tenses should indicate the correct timing of these actions. A referendum was passed at one point in time (1993), and improvements have been going on  since . In the original structure,  was  doesn't indicate the continuation of action implied by  since .

Has been  would be the form to indicate action still continuing. Since (A), (B), and (E) do not include  has been , they are incorrect. (C) incorrectly changes the active participle  approving  to the passive participle  approved , so it is not the right choice. (D) fixes the verb tense error and does not introduce any new problems, so it is correct.

Since 1993, when it passed a referendum approving casino gambling, the

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Since 1993, when it passed a referendum approving casino gambling, the

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