Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 180: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that  the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Day 180: Sentence Correction (SC1)

THE PROMPT

THE OPTIONS  
 
•  between  is used for comparison of two things whereas  among  is used for comparison of more than three things
-- the two things being compared do not have to be singular (both jobs and job seekers are plural -- we are comparing two groups of things)
--  being  should be  is 
-- this sentence is contains a condition/result structure. The word IF is missing:  economists have assumed that IF the unemployment rate . . . 
-- if this sentence were written correctly, it would be a  zero conditional . I discuss conditionals below
Eliminate A

• we need  between , not  among 
• "there IS": okay
--  Should the unemployment rate be  is grammatically identical to  if the unemployment rate is. 
-- correct: . . .  should the unemployment rate be four percent, there  is  a rough balance between jobs and job seekers. 
• we do not have to address the conditional issue because  among  is ungrammatical
Eliminate B

• we can use  were  in this way to mean  IF it were the case that 
-- there is no subject/verb problem. This  were  verb gets "fronted"—put before the subject.
-- in a hypothetical statement, we use simple past for the IF clause, which is also the hypothetical subjunctive
-- whether the noun is plural or singular, it takes WERE
• Correct examples
-- If I were a magician, I would poof myself to another city. (Is poof a verb? It is now.)
-- If she were less impulsive, she would not worry her family so much.
-- If poor students were given real opportunity, they would stand a fighting chance.

• A sentence that uses  were  in the IF/condition clause requires  would  in the MAIN/result clause
 Corrected :  . . . economists have assumed that were the unemployment rate four percent, there  would  be a rough balance between jobs and job seekers. 
• This Type 2 conditional is not appropriate for this sentence. Economists were not hypothesizing about an unreal past.
Eliminate C

• this sentence is a zero conditional—in this case, a general truth  .
• Zero conditional: IF simple present, THEN simple present
•  between  is correct
KEEP

E)  Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that  there  is  a rough balance  among  jobs and job seekers  when  there  is  an unemployment rate that is four per cent  
• only one thing is wrong with this sentence:  among 
• in zero conditionals, we are allowed to use the word  when  rather than  if 
Eliminate E

The answer is D

• NOTES

Conditionals on the GMAT often do not contain the word IF.
Still, if a condition and result exist in the sentence (or a cause and an effect), we have a conditional.
In English, we talk about various levels of certainty with very specific verbs.

There are five types of conditional: Zero, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Mixed Conditional.
You can see a general overview of all five kinds in  my post, here, in the footnote

Focus on the first three.

Zero conditional: If THIS thing happens, THAT thing happens. 
-- presents a general truth, scientific fact, or the like.
-- use IF simple present, THEN simple present.
-- the situation is real and possible. The statement is true now and always.

Because the statement is always true, we can use WHEN rather than IF in zero conditionals.
I explain why we can use when    in this post, here  (the question is good - I'd try it)

Type 1: If THIS thing happens, THAT thing WILL happen 
-- mostly used for predictions, in part because the statement is made in the present about a hypothetical but real and very possible future 
-- IF simple present, THEN simple future
-- condition is real, outcome ("truth") is very probable

TYPE 2 - three iterations.* 
We care the most about the true hypothetical. 
We use the subjunctive because we are talking about a contrary-to-fact situation.

Type 2, hypothetical: If THIS thing were to happen, then THAT thing would happen 
--  If antitrust laws were enforced properly, then oligopolies would not control entire sectors of the economy.  
-- these statements are about the unreal past. Neither the condition nor the result happened.
-- We use the hypothetical subjunctive (simple past WERE) to express the counterfactual nature of the situation

Without other errors, options A, B, and E would be  zero conditionals,  just as is option D.
 If the unemployment rate IS four percent,   there IS a rough balance between job seekers and jobs. 
We could also say, as in option E,
 WHEN the unemployment rate is four percent, there IS a rough balance between job seekers and jobs.

Only Option C contains the contrary-to-fact hypothetical (the unreal past). That Type 2 conditional is the wrong construction for this kind of statement.

Many of you analyzed (C) correctly. Nicely done.

Takeaways: 
• WERE is okay on its own, but only if the statement warrants a hypothetical, and this statement does not.
You may see three IF statements that use different words. All three contain "fronted" verbs.
-- WERE I you, I would call her. (If I were you, I would call her.)
-- SHOULD the current president be reelected, she will leave her country and become an expat. (If the current president IS reelected, she will become an expat.)
-- HAD I to redo that essay, I would include subject XYZ. (If I were to redo that essay, I would . . . )
• The kind of statement in this question can be a zero conditional.
-- some people mistakenly believe that zero conditionals are only hard core math or science facts.

COMMENTS

adityapanda  , welcome to SC Butler. (Great username.) Nice work, by the way.

Very good to see everyone! Even though reasoning was off here and there in some posts, everyone gets kudos.

**The other Type 2s
IF simple past, then present conditional (VERY rare)
 Type 2b: If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would happen 
--  If you left the house earlier, then you would be on time for the bus. 
(But you did not leave the house earlier, and you were not on time.)

IF simple past, then present continuous conditional (VERY rare)
 Type 2c: If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would be happening 
-- If I understood the joke, I would be laughing. (But I don't understand the joke, so I am not laughing.)

Shivan21 · Answer

Whenever we compare/speak about 2 objects, "between" should be used. "Among" should be used for 3 or more objects.
A, B and E are incorrect for the usage of "among"

"if/then" conditional structure is correct in D than the if/then structure in C. Since in C the "if" part is in past, the "then" part should contain "would".

Therefore D is the answer IMO.

sathik63 · Answer

Split: among and between. Here the sentence is about two things so among is incorrect.

A, B, E can be eliminated

In C the usage of were conveys a hypothetical situation that is not the intended meaning. Hence C is out

D is perfect without any error.

Posted from my mobile device

adityapanda · Answer

generis

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that  the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

Decision points: Between and Among.
1.  "Between"  in used in case of 2 nouns ( Jobs and job seekers in this case).  "Among"  is used in case of more than 2 Nouns.
So options A,B and E can be eliminated.

2. Conditionals:
Here is a brief introduction to this concept.

- Zero Conditional:   Universal truths or things that are generally true. 
eg. If it rains, there is water.

-First Conditional: Present (If X happens, Y will happen) 
eg. If it rains, I will get drenched. (may/can also be used in place of will)
 
-Second Conditional: Present Hypothetical (If X were to happen, then Y would happen) 
eg. -If it rained, I would be in trouble. 
-If I were the President, then I would bring economic prosperity. (Not- would have brought economic prosperity)

-Third Conditional: Past hypothetical ( If X had happened, Y would have happened) 
eg. If I had known the concepts, I would have answered the questions.

Now let consider option C and D
C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

This starts with a present hypothetical senario, " were the unemployment rate Four percent" it should logically be followed by a construction with "would", i.e "there would be a rough balance between jobs and job seekers"

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

This is a case of zero conditional, In this case the economists generally assumed that "if the unemployment rate is four percent, then there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers"

Option D brings out the intended meaning in the clearest way possible and is free of grammatical errors.

Lampard42 · Answer

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers  - Usage of Being + usage of among for two items

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers  - If....then is a better usage

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers  - "were the unemployment rate four per cent" incorrect as the second part of the conditional will require "would"

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers  - Correct

E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent  - usage of among for two items + "unemployment rate that is four per cent" is awkward

chaitralirr · Answer

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that  the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers  grammatically incorrect employment rate being four percent

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers  the use of should is incorrect

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers  use of were is incorrect here

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers  the usage of if is correct as there is an assumption so the situation is hypothetical

E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent "relative pronoun when used incorrectly"

IMO D

snoep · Answer

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

balance word suggests that we need to balance between the elements. balance among jobs or balance among job seekers is different from balance between jobs and job seekers. As we are talking about employment rate it may not be comparing among jobs but rather between jobs and job seekers. So A, B, and E are out for that reason.

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
balance among jobs and among job seekers - is not the intended meaning

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
balance among jobs and among job seekers - is not the intended meaning

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
for were to be correct we need hypothetical/conditional word 'if' . this does not seem to be a hypothetical situation, rather appears to be an assumed fact. also, if the rate were 4 percent - does it mean to suggest that rate has never been 4 percent until now? that may not be realistic to suggest...

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
assumption made is there is rough balance between jobs and job seekers if the rate is 4 percent.. keep the answer!

E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
balance among jobs and among job seekers - is not the intended meaning

D is the answer!

saukrit · Answer

Among  compares more than 2 entities
 Between  compares 2 entities

We have 2 entities here. ABE are out

B/w C and D, C clearly has verb tense mismatch and incorrect use of conditionals

Hence D is the clear winner with correct usage

joohwangie · Answer

We’re comparing two things therefore “between” must be use not “among”

Only C and D left

Without the word “if” the sentence seems not understandable.

Therefore, D

Posted from my mobile device

eakabuah · Answer

Split#1: Usage of  among  vs  between 
 among  is used to refer to relationships that involve   more than two entities  .
 Between  is used to refer to relationships that involve   two entities  .
The use of  among  is inappropriate here since the relationship is between jobs and job seekers. Between is appropriate in this context.
Based on this, options A, B, and E can be eliminated.

Option C: Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that   were   the unemployment rate four per cent, there   is   a rough balance between jobs and job seekers.
Option C has subject verb error. The subject is the  unemployment rate  (singular). The verb is   were   which is plural. The singular form of the verb is required. In addition to this, there is a shift in the tense of the verbs in option C, which is not acceptable. The right tense should be the simple present tense because a fact is presented.

D) Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that if the unemployment rate   is   four per cent, there   is   a rough balance between jobs and job seekers. There is no subject-verb tense error. The right verb tense required, the simple present tense, is used to appropriately report a fact.

The answer is option D .

zhanbo · Answer

Good question! It took me 1 minute 40 seconds to decide that  (D)  is the right answer.

(A) The sentence is discussing an assumption, not an actual unemployment rate being 4%. (A) indicates 4% is happening. 
(B) Clearly the use of subjunctive mood in "should the unemployment rate be four per cent", which dictates "there is" should be "there would / should / could / might be".
(C) Same as above.
(E) "there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent" is ungainly redundant.

SonGoku · Answer

Split 1: among vs between 
between is used when the comparision is among two entities (here jobs and hob seekers)
Between X and Y : correct idiom
Among X and Y : wrong idiom
Among :
the chocolate was shared among 5 friends
the chocolate was shared between 5 firends.
So eliminate A,B, and E.
we're left with C and D

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers 
In the first part of sentence is past and second part is present.
we don't have such type of conditional as past....present.
if we have past in the first part then we need to have would in the second part .So wrong.Eliminate C.

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers 
Present and present>Type Zero conditional.TRUE
D is the Answer

kunaldutt15 · Answer

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers

C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers

E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent

Split: Between vs among
Only 2 entities (jobs and job seekers) are being discussed here so “between” is the correct usage.
Eliminate A, B and E.

Option C: it presents a hypothetical situation which is not intended here. Also, “would” must be used for an if condition in the past tense.

Option D is correct.

Posted from my mobile device

LalitaSiri · Answer

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers.

A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance  among  jobs and job seekers - compare between 2 things, between must be use

B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance  among  jobs and job seekers - between must be use

C)  were  the unemployment rate four per cent, there  is  a rough balance between jobs and job seekers - verb tense problem

D) if the unemployment rate  is  four per cent, there  is  a rough balance between jobs and job seekers -CORRECT

E) there is a rough balance  among  jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent - between must be use

generis · Answer

I have posted the official explanation  HERE

VerbalBot · Answer

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Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that

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