daagh
We can eliminate choices A and C, because, the relative pronoun –which - modifies the noun – year -, an absurd match.
We must select either the present participial hurting or the verb – hurt-.
We can not pick E because of the self contradiction within the clause; when we use a singular verb - is typical -, then we must match it up with another singular verb – hurts- in the second arm, rather than the plural verb - hurt- The subject of the sentence is the singular decrease rather than the plural - rising energy prices and plummeting consumer confidence –
We now have B and D. In D, the usage of being does denote a sense of ongoing, while it should not. Because the decease has been recent and is over. If it were to continue, we would rather call it the current decrease
This leaves us with B, not a satisfactory one too. The shift of tense from present perfect to past tense was is grammatically undesirable. Has been lower would have been better and parallel IMO.
All said and done, B perhaps, may be the final compulsion
Hi Daagh,
I have one confusion regarding
which as a modifier.
If there are two modifier and
which appear in second modifier as in this case,
The recent decrease in revenue has been attributed to rising energy prices and plummeting consumer confidence,
much lower than is typical for this time of year (1st modifier),
which hurt sales of big ticket items such as automobiles (2nd modifier).
can
which modify the original noun (in this case
Consumer confidence)