The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was not established to draw

Question

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was not established to draw its member nations into a close economic and political union; it will strengthen its charter  someday, but only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, were to place pressure  on the smaller members to yield to the common interest.

A) someday, but only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, were to place pressure

B) someday, but only if pressure from leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, is placed

C) someday only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, would place pressure

D) someday only if leading members, which includes Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, were placing pressure

E) someday only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, place pressure

Source-Gmatfree

viv007 · Answer

E is best then condition here is in future tense so if conditiin requires to be in present tense..

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SonalSinha803 · Answer

A) someday, but only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, were to place pressure
- creates meaning error. Usage of "were" makes it sound as a hypothetical condition/situation, instead it is a requirement which needs to be fulfilled. Hence, eliminate.

B) someday, but only if pressure from leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, is placed - ok, but could have a better structure and arrangements

C) someday only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, would place pressure - use of "would" is actually unnecessary. Hold and move.

D) someday only if leading members, which includes Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, were placing pressure - incorrect use of past continuous tense. Eliminate.

E) someday only if leading members, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, place pressure - present tense, concise, no meaning error.

Compare E, C and B. E stands out to be the best option.

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tejyr · Answer

It is based on single concept of if-then construction.
if (simple present tense) , then (simple future or present tense)
As in Question already then part is in simple future so then should be simple present

Priyanka1293 · Answer

Can some expert please explain why the other choices are wrong?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Try  the official question that this question is based on .

Priyanka1293 · Answer

Thanks  AjiteshArun . 
The OG question is more understandable, and now this makes sense

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Creating a filter: In this question, when we read the prompt, we pause about the relationship between the word "if" and the word "were." As usual, we're checking not just for grammar, but to identify what the intended meaning of the sentence is and whether it's expressed. The word "if" identifies a condition. "Were" is a verb in the subjunctive mood, which in this case, is expressing a condition contrary to fact. Those two things could go together. We could say, "if we were king, we would do X, Y, and Z." But this is a statement about the future. The words "will strengthen" and "someday" make that clear. And in the future, the condition doesn't go along with the contrary to fact. It's a fact: if these countries place pressure, they will strengthen their charter.

Applying the filter: This leads us to answer choice (E). Choice (B) uses the passive tense without need. Choice (C) uses "would" inside the condition, which doesn't make sense here. (D) has the same problem as (A). The answer is (E). Notice that the word "but" isn't needed. The phrase "only if" is accurate and complete in identifying the necessary condition for the strengthening of the charter.

The correct answer is (E).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was not established to draw

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was not established to draw

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