Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.


(A) because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will

(B) with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target

(C) because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would

(D) due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target

(E) due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will


Source : GMATPrep Default Exam Pack

IMO A

Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.

A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will --> two parallel action: have been predicting is correctly compared to has raised. Will is also correct
B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target -->it wrongly means that the economic strength of the Federal Reserve is continuing. Besides, be after target is ungrammatically used
C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would -->two incompatible tense actions, economy continues strong and analysts predicted. They must be both in the same tense because 2 action happen at the same time
D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target -->same error as B
E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will --> will should be would to be suitable with predicted

A.

"predicting" is the correct form in this sentence.
So,left with A and E.
E - "that the target be raised" is wrong.This structure does not imply a prediction rather implies a command.

Sample 1. Two things leaning more on grammar are important here.
1.Which to use Whether analysts predicted or analysts have been predicting. Considering that, the prediction is still going on and not a competed task, we need to use present progressive tense. So A and D survive.
2. Use of the subjunctive mood verb 'be raised' in the sub clause is inappropriate. Prediction is not a bossy theme to entail the command subjunctive.

Therefore, A is the choice
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hi,

Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.

A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will
B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target
C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would
D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target
E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will

first of all we can see that in non underlined portion we can see a COMMA before and...hence a independent clause must be there after and.
now option B is straight away wrong ..since an IC you will never see starting with WITH...HENCE B out.

C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would===>PREDICTITION is not 100 percent THING...and so also WOULD...so never use WOULD with PREDICTION....its kinda redundant thing...always use WILL.==>Hence this is wrong

D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target===>absence of WILL makes this option wrong...its acting as a subjunctive form.==>hence wrong.

E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will==>here they are 2 errors...first,due to the fact adds to wordiness .second, predicted ...is wrongverb tense ...we need present perfect ..because of the use of FOR WEEKS.

Hence correct option is A.
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hi,
sorry i was not very clear...
there are 3 ways we can use and
x and y===>list of two things....usage 1
x,y,and y===>list of 3 things..so you need a comma before when you have a list of more than 2 things.............usage 2
X,and Y===>in this case ==>X AND Y ARE ICs....=>my intention was to point out this category.......usage 3

your example:
Official question #1: Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi, in the form of carbon dioxide, and converting it to energy-rich sugars.

highlited part is modifier...they are supposed to be kept in between commas...if you remove the modifier..
then it becomes===Official question #1: Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi and converting it to energy-rich sugars.===>satisfying usage 1.
list of 2 things.

Official question #2:The Iroquois were primarily planters,but supplementing their cultivation of maize, squash, and beans with fishing and hunting.==>satisfying usage 2==>list of more than 2 things.

Official question #3: [u]Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it. is finding uses in medicine, archaeology, and criminology.===>again satisfying usage 2...list of more than 2 things..


Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.
=====>here there is no list ,,we have a complete clause an IC...BEFORE AND..so a IC is required after and....==>usage 3

hope it helps....
well for further understanding..read below an excerpt of MANHATTAN SC GUIDE.


Whenever you see and in a GMAT sentence, look for the list and count the items. GMAT
sentences have been observed to include as many as four items in a list connected by and.
List
XandY
X, Y, and Z
X, Y, Z, andW
Examples
Apples AND pears
Apples, pears, AriD bananas
Apples, pears, bananas, AND peaches
Correct lists obey these templates. No right answer omits and in a list just before the last
item. Moreover, the GMAT always inserts a comma before the and in lists of 3 or 4 items.
However, if you join 2 clauses with and, you can put an optional comma before the and.
Doing so is especially recommended when the clauses are long, independent, or both.
List of Clauses
X, and Y
Example
I really like candy apples, AND I eat them often.

HOPE IT HELPS....
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'because of' modifies a verb phrase
'due to' modifies a noun/noun phrase.

Ex:

It is cold in USA because of the polar vortex.
Why is it cold? because of polar vortex.

The cold wave in USA is due to polar vortex.
The cold wave in USA is caused by polar vortex.

Back to the question stem,

Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times because of economy's continued
strength.
Why did the FR raise interest rate? because of economy's continued strength.

If you want to use 'due to', your sentence should look like

The raise in short-term interest rate is due to economy's continued strength.
The raise is caused by economy's continued strength.
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Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.

A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will
Correct, but wordy.
B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target
Incorrect. "Analysts predicted with the economy" sounds as they predicted something together (analysts + economy).
C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would
Incorrect. Because x continues strong, analysts continue predicting. This structure demands a progressive tense.
D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target
Incorrect. "due" to is an adjective, so the real meaning here is: they are analysts because of the economy's continued strength, what is just wrong.
E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will
Incorrect. "due" to is an adjective, so the real meaning here is: they are analysts because of the economy's continued strength, what is just wrong.

Going with A. Wordy but fine.

Hi Sahil,

Thanks for posting your doubt here.

Choice cannot be the correct answer. The sentence clearly says that Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times. This means that at present also, the raised interest continues.

Then the sentence says that the analysts have been predicting for weeks. Use of present perfect continuous tense is absolutely correct because the analysts started the action of predicting in the recent past, and the action is still continued. This prediction is being made about an even that is going to take place in the future for the reason that the economy in the present is strong. If the cause is written in the present tense, how can the effect take place in the past?

So please take into consideration of the context of the sentence to decide the correct verb tense.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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becuase modifies verb, in option A becuase modifies which verb?

If we have option D as "D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will" - is it correct!

also if we replace "due to" with "caused by" doesn't it make sense.
whats wrong in saying caused by economy's continued strength; is that wrong since it modifies analysts

pls advise
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