gauravraos wrote:
The surge in personal computing during the 1990s, which saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced by Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, proved to be a challenge for managers who have little to no typing skills.
A. 1990s, which saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced by Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, proved to be a challenge for managers who have little typing skills
B. 1990s, a period that saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, proved to be a challenge for managers who had few typing skills
C. 1990s saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced by Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, proved to be a challenge for managers with few typing skills
D. 1990s, a period that saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced by Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, proved to be a challenge for managers with little typing skill
E. 1990s saw the majority of administrative assistants replaced by Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and other digital assistant tools, has proven to be a challenge for managers unskilled with regard to typing
VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:
A notable decision point in this problem involves the difference between putting a modifier after "1990s" (which A, B, and D do) and instead just placing the verb "saw" there in C and E. In each answer choice, the verb "proved" or "has proven" follows a comma, meaning that you must have a modifier structure present. Therefore, C and E are incorrect.
Choice A commits a subtle error in diction. Note that the main difference in the last few words of A and D (the correct answer) is "little skills" vs. "little skill." Technically, if you're treating the item being modified as plural (skills) you need to use "few" (as you see in B) as opposed to "little." Why? Because "little" also means "small" and when you're using "little" to describe multiple items that could be taken to mean "tiny skills." So because of that meaning/diction mistake, choice A is correct. Choice D, by not using a plural for "skill" avoids that error and is correct.
Finally, while choice B properly uses "few skills," it omits the word "by" in "administrative assistants replaced Lotus Notes...." This creates an improper sentence structure and is therefore incorrect.
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