Only E conveys the correct meaning

OA:E

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IMO E: The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years
its concise and correct


The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls.

A. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years,
B. Declining over the last 20 years, worldwide illiteracy rates have fallen for one main reason, which
C. Declining over the last 20 years, the main reason for the fall in illiteracy rates
D. The main reason worldwide illiteracy rates, having dropped over the last 20 years,
E. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years

MEANING
The main reason for the decline in ILLITERACY rates over a period, is the sharp increase in LITERACY rates among women.

A. ", which have dropped… last 20" unintended modifier, the period of decline is vital information; "reason for decline… rates have dropped" seems redundant;
B. "rates have fallen…which is the sharp" unintended modifier, creating a fragment; "Declining…have fallen" seems redundant;
C. "Declining…the reason" imps the reason is declining, nonsense;
D. "reason…rates…is" fragment; "having dropped" seems to be mod "the main reason" nonsense;

Answer (E)

The best answer is option E.

Option A: The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls. This is wordy compared with option E. The use of decline and which have dropped creates redundancy, which was avoided by option E.

Option B: Declining over the last 20 years, worldwide illiteracy rates have fallen for one main reason, which is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls. Option B also has a redundancy issue creating a wordy option compared with option E.

Option C: Declining over the last 20 years, the main reason for the fall in illiteracy rates is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls. Declining over the last 20 years is a dangling modifier intended to modify illiteracy rates, instead, it erroneously modifies the main reason.

Option D: The main reason worldwide illiteracy rates, having dropped over the last 20 years is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls. This is grammatically not correct. The sentence is incomplete and makes no sense whatsoever.

Option E: The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls. This is the best answer out of the lot. Compared with options A and B, it is more concise.

The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls.

A. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, essential modifier is required instead of which
B. Declining over the last 20 years, worldwide illiteracy rates have fallen for one main reason, which The sentence starts with a dependent clause and needs to be attached to independent clauses all sentences appear as fragment
C. Declining over the last 20 years, the main reason for the fall in illiteracy rates same error as B
D. The main reason worldwide illiteracy rates, having dropped over the last 20 years, having dropped is incorrect and modifies the entire clause incorrectly
E. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years correctly places words concise and right meaning

IMO E

The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, is the sharp increase of literacy rates among young women, which is the result of campaigns to increase educational opportunities for girls.

this is quite difficult; I am going with A

A. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, -- correct concise and clear
B. Declining over the last 20 years, worldwide illiteracy rates have fallen for one main reason, which -- too many whiches
C. Declining over the last 20 years, the main reason for the fall in illiteracy rates -- main reason is not declining over the last 20 years; illiteracy rates have
D. The main reason worldwide illiteracy rates, having dropped over the last 20 years,
E. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years --change the meaning; illiteracy rates the one which decline over the last 20 years, not the main reason is decline

IMO Option E

A. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates, which have dropped over the last 20 years, --> decline & dropped are redundant --> Wrong
B. Declining over the last 20 years, worldwide illiteracy rates have fallen for one main reason, which --> wrong meaning
C. Declining over the last 20 years, the main reason for the fall in illiteracy rates --> wrong meaning
D. The main reason worldwide illiteracy rates, having dropped over the last 20 years, --> incomplete sentence, having is wrong usage
E. The main reason for the decline in worldwide illiteracy rates over the last 20 years --> Correct

Official Explanation

Correct Answer: E

This is the most correct and concise version. Choices a, b, and d are less concise, and d creates an illogical sentence by changing have to having. Choice c is incorrect because declining over the last 20 years is misplaced and as a result modifies main reason.
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