As state governments become less and less able to support higher educa

Question

As state governments  become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have been becoming  more and more dependent on alumni networks, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropists.

A. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have been becoming

B. are becoming less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have become

C. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities will become

D. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have become

E. are becoming less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities will become

sowragu · Accepted Answer

As state governments become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have been becoming more and more dependent on alumni networks, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropists.

A. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have been becoming

B. are becoming less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have become

C. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities will become

D. become less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities have become

E. are becoming less and less able to support higher education in the coming years, universities will become

Show Answer

Official Answer

C

Abhishek009 · Answer

IMHO (C) as well , with  sowragu  for the same reason posted above...

thangvietname · Answer

E can be correct too

have done/past simple can go with simple present to make a sequence.
past perfect can go with past simple to make a sequence

sayantanc2k · Answer

Present continuous tense  are becoming  cannot be used to refer to a future period (in coming years) .

(In colloquial English, however, we often use that way - tomorrow I  am going  to school; nevertheless GMAT does not prefer this usage - we should say: tomorrow I  shall  go to school).

For this reason  are becoming in coming years  is incorrect. Another simpler example would probably make it clearer:

I am becoming older in coming years..definitely wrong.

chesstitans · Answer

"in the coming years" & future tense "will" is a very common pattern in SC gmat questions.
C & E are both close, but E is incorrect b/c the tense is wrongly used. V-ing is normally avoided in gmat.

vijaisingh2001 · Answer

As I am doing more hardworking in coming days , I will be able to crack GMAT is better

Or as I do more hardworking in coming days, I will be able to crack

Choice C is better

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

devikeerthansr · Answer

Once A happens B will happens is the correct structure. C is correct.

prateekchugh · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors 
This sentence contains two underlined verbs. The first, “become,” is plural, and agrees with its
subject, “state governments,” which is also plural. The second verb, “have been becoming,” also
agrees with its subject, “universities.” However, universities’ increasing dependence on alumni
networks will take place “in the coming years,” so we need the future tense, “will become.” We
can instantly rule out (A).

Step 2: Scan and Group the Answer Choices 
Because we have identified a tense error in the second verb, we’ll use that verb to split the answer
choices. (C) and (E) use the future tense, “will become.” (A), (B), and (D) retain some version of a
past tense.

Step 3: Eliminate Choices Until Only One Remains 
We definitely need the second verb to be in the future tense, so we can throw out (A), (B), and (D).
Of the remaining choices, (C) keeps the first verb, “become,” while (E) changes the first verb to “are
becoming.” In general, the GMAT test makers prefer the simplest and most concise constructions.
“As state governments become less and less able . . . in the coming years” makes sense, so there is
no need to complicate the verb tense. Choice (C) is the correct answer.

VerbalBot · Answer

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As state governments become less and less able to support higher educa

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