Bunuel
Competition Mode Question
The flood of home foreclosures that followed the large economic recession in 2008 caused housing prices to drop precipitously,
which lead to the writing down of mortgage backed securities, and, to fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral.
(A) which lead to the writing down of mortgage backed securities, and, to fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
(B) which led to the write downs of mortgage backed securities and fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
(C) which lead to the write down of mortgage backed securities and the fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
(D) leading to write downs of mortgage backed securities and fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
(E) leading to write downs of mortgage backed securities and, fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The main issue in this sentence deals with ensuring a concise parallelism in listing the two results of the economic problems.
(1) The economic trouble led to two actions, which should be parallel: (a) write downs of mortgage backed securities (b) fears of a Great Depression-like spiral.
A. the phrase
the writing down of..., and, to fears of... is not parallel
B. the phrase
the write downs of... and fears of is not parallel as the first the should be removed
C. although this phrase is technically parallel, the inclusion of
the before each result makes the sentence awkward and not concise
D. the phrase
write downs of... and fears of... is both concise and parallel
E. the phrase
write downs of... and, fears of... is not parallel