The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its

Dear Akhil,
Thank you for your query.
You are correct. Structurally speaking, the difference between C and D is the difference between their respective uses of “which” and “with”. However, logically speaking, choice C is any day a lot clearer in conveying the intended meaning of the author than either choice D or E is. Let’s see why:

In choice D or E, it is not clear exactly how the prepositional phrase starting with “with” relates back to the sentence. Now, the whole phrase starting with “with” is a prepositional phrase, which can modify either a noun or a verb. Accordingly, the two possible things that could be modified with this modifier are (ref: underlined sections) :

a. The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits…
or
b. The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits…

Now, the context of the sentence dictates that the “with” phrase modify “profits” as, logically speaking, the profits have increased after falling for two years. So let’s test whether this meaning comes across clearly with the “with” modifiers :

(D) The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits, with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.
(E) The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits, with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after having fallen over the last two years.

Now, do you think that the “with” modifiers in the above two sentences clearly refer back to the profits?! The answer is NO! This is because these phrases could be deemed as modifying the action in the previous clause. In other words, it could be taken to suggest that:

The results are evident because of a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.

The above meaning makes logical sense. However, is this sense compatible with the intended meaning of the author? The answer is NO! Also, besides the fact that choices D and E form rather awkward sentences, in the “with” modifying phrases, we are just told about a five percent increase, but we are not told exactly what entity has increased during the first three months of this year. The same goes for the “falling” bit. We do not know exactly what fell over the last two years.

Accordingly, it makes more sense to use “which” here. This is because “which” is typically used to convey extra-information about the noun preceding it. In the correct choice, “which” unambiguously refers back to “profits”. A simple example of the same usage is explained below:

The green shoes, which I tried on, are designed by the famous shoe designer Romano Ray.

In the above sentence, the noun “shoes” is already described as “green” in color. Therefore, the “which” clause- which I tried on- gives us extra information about the shoes.

To solidify your understanding of the topic and to learn the nuances of the same, please visit our in-depth article on the subject: https://gmatclub.com/forum/noun-modifier ... 35868.html

Please also revise the concept of “Types of modifier” if you are an e-GMATer.

Hope the above discussion helps!

Regards,

Neeti.

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 core meaning of this sentence is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Pronouns

• The present participle verb form ("verb+ing") is most commonly used to modify nouns, commonly used (preceded by comma) to express cause-effect relationships, and moderately used to refer to ongoing events in any time frame.
• The simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the 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.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to event that concluded in the past.
• 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".

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the singular pronoun "it" to refer to the plural noun "profits". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, 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, and the simple past tense is used to refer to event that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "fell" to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past; please remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past, and the simple past tense is used to refer to an event that concluded in the past.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, 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, 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". Further, Option B incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had fallen" to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past; please remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time 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".

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies "its profits" with "which have increased", conveying the intended meaning - that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years. Further, Option C correctly uses the present perfect tense verb "have increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "falling" in this sentence) to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past; please remember, the present participle ("verb+ing" - "falling" in this sentence) is used to refer to ongoing events in any time frame. Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a five percent increase"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a five percent increase"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "having fallen", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" 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):



To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits, which increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it fell over the last two years.

(C) which have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling
[This is the right answer.]
(E) with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after having fallen
If we were to replace "with a five percent increase" with "which have increased five percent" and rephrase the sentence like this:
which have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after having fallen
Would this then be considered as better than option C?

Thanks

I came to right answer only by focusing on tense base....
Is my approach will be effective in future????

Posted from my mobile device

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 core meaning of this sentence is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Pronouns

• The present participle verb form ("verb+ing") is most commonly used to modify nouns, commonly used (preceded by comma) to express cause-effect relationships, and moderately used to refer to ongoing events in any time frame.
• The simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the 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.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to event that concluded in the past.
• 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".

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the singular pronoun "it" to refer to the plural noun "profits". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, 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, and the simple past tense is used to refer to event that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "fell" to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past; please remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past, and the simple past tense is used to refer to an event that concluded in the past.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, 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, 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". Further, Option B incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had fallen" to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time in the past; please remember, the simple past continuous tense is used to refer to an action that was ongoing over a period of time 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".

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies "its profits" with "which have increased", conveying the intended meaning - that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years. Further, Option C correctly uses the present perfect tense verb "have increased" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "falling" in this sentence) to refer to an action that took place over a period of time in the past; please remember, the present participle ("verb+ing" - "falling" in this sentence) is used to refer to ongoing events in any time frame. Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a five percent increase"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with a five percent increase"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the company's profits have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling over the last two years. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "having fallen", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" 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):



To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team