Quote:
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)