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20 Jun 2018, 21:53
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Difficulty:
15%
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Question Stats:
80% (01:31) correct
20%
(01:42)
wrong
based on 9910
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The Commerce Department reported that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply.
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
SC01059
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
SC01059
Show Spoilernytimes article
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/30/us/economy-is-up-3.7-but-signs-hint-of-slowing.html
In a report that cheered the Administration and financial markets for different reasons, the Commerce Department said today that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter. But the report also showed that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply.
SC01059
In a report that cheered the Administration and financial markets for different reasons, the Commerce Department said today that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter. But the report also showed that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply.
SC01059
Updated on: 13 Jul 2018, 12:00
Originally posted by EMPOWERgmatVerbal on 23 Jun 2018, 16:01.
Last edited by EMPOWERgmatVerbal on 13 Jul 2018, 12:00, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by EMPOWERgmatVerbal on 13 Jul 2018, 12:00, edited 1 time in total.
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Hello Everyone!
Let’s take a closer look at this question so we can narrow it down to the correct option.
The Commerce Department reported that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply.
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
After taking a quick glance over each of the options, two major differences jumped out to me that we must address:
1. Linking the two events with the words “as” or “with”
2. The verb “slow”: is slowed/slowed/slowing/was slowing/has slowed
Which item would eliminate the most options quickly? Number 1 - using “with” or “as” to link together both events. No matter which one you choose, it will knock off either 2 or 3 options immediately, giving you a better chance of finding the right one!
Since we are talking about two events that happen at the same time, it is best to use the word “as” to link them together.
The word “with” forces writers to use gerunds or awkward phrases like “with a sharp slowing of” or “with the piling up of.” So let’s eliminate answers C, D, and E right away because they don’t use the best word to connect the two events.
This leaves us with only A and B to choose from, which should make this an easier choice! Let’s focus on A and B, and look closely for any glaring problems in one or the other:
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
Okay, so I already see a red flag in this answer! This sentence is discussing events that all happened in the past, yet this sentence uses the present tense “is slowed.” This answer is INCORRECT because it uses an improper verb tense!
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
This leaves us with only one option left, and it is the CORRECT answer. Answer B uses past tense verbs throughout (“were” and “slowed”), and it clearly shows that both events were happening at the same time.
There you go - option B is the correct answer!
Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
Let’s take a closer look at this question so we can narrow it down to the correct option.
The Commerce Department reported that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply.
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
After taking a quick glance over each of the options, two major differences jumped out to me that we must address:
1. Linking the two events with the words “as” or “with”
2. The verb “slow”: is slowed/slowed/slowing/was slowing/has slowed
Which item would eliminate the most options quickly? Number 1 - using “with” or “as” to link together both events. No matter which one you choose, it will knock off either 2 or 3 options immediately, giving you a better chance of finding the right one!
Since we are talking about two events that happen at the same time, it is best to use the word “as” to link them together.
The word “with” forces writers to use gerunds or awkward phrases like “with a sharp slowing of” or “with the piling up of.” So let’s eliminate answers C, D, and E right away because they don’t use the best word to connect the two events.
This leaves us with only A and B to choose from, which should make this an easier choice! Let’s focus on A and B, and look closely for any glaring problems in one or the other:
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
Okay, so I already see a red flag in this answer! This sentence is discussing events that all happened in the past, yet this sentence uses the present tense “is slowed.” This answer is INCORRECT because it uses an improper verb tense!
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
This leaves us with only one option left, and it is the CORRECT answer. Answer B uses past tense verbs throughout (“were” and “slowed”), and it clearly shows that both events were happening at the same time.
There you go - option B is the correct answer!
Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
08 Aug 2022, 01:07
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Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that businesses were expanding their production, but at the same time unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "consumer spending is slowed sharply"; the passive construction of this clause incorrectly implies that some other entity slowed consumer spending; the intended meaning is that consumer spending slowed on its own. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "piled" to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past; remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past, and the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option A incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "is slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
B: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "as consumer spending slowed sharply", conveying the intended meaning - that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply on its own. Further, Option B correctly uses the simple past continuous tense verb "were piling" to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past. Additionally, Option B correctly uses the simple past tense verb "slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a sharp slowing of consumer spending"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that unsold goods piled up on store shelves alongside a sharp slowing of consumer spending; the intended meaning is that unsold goods piled up on store shelves because a sharp slowing of consumer spending occurred. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had piled" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that consumer spending slowed sharply because of the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves; the intended meaning is that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past continuous tense to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with unsold goods piling up on store shelves"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that consumer spending slowed sharply because unsold goods were piling up on store shelves; the intended meaning is that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "has slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Simple Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel
The Commerce Department reported that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply.
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
(A) unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
(B) unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
(C) unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
(D) consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
(E) consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that businesses were expanding their production, but at the same time unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "consumer spending is slowed sharply"; the passive construction of this clause incorrectly implies that some other entity slowed consumer spending; the intended meaning is that consumer spending slowed on its own. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "piled" to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past; remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past, and the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option A incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "is slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
B: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "as consumer spending slowed sharply", conveying the intended meaning - that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply on its own. Further, Option B correctly uses the simple past continuous tense verb "were piling" to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past. Additionally, Option B correctly uses the simple past tense verb "slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a sharp slowing of consumer spending"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that unsold goods piled up on store shelves alongside a sharp slowing of consumer spending; the intended meaning is that unsold goods piled up on store shelves because a sharp slowing of consumer spending occurred. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had piled" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that consumer spending slowed sharply because of the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves; the intended meaning is that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past continuous tense to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to actions that took place over a period of time in the past.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with unsold goods piling up on store shelves"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that consumer spending slowed sharply because unsold goods were piling up on store shelves; the intended meaning is that unsold goods were piling up on store shelves because consumer spending slowed sharply. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "has slowed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Simple Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
