12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 1: When regulations that l

Question

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products  they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase  revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to in order to increase

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to so as to increase

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials will lie more frequently than they used to for an increase in

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Manhattan Prep Official Explanation

First Glance:  Differences in the answer choices provide clues about what a problem might be testing. Before reading the sentence, glance at the beginning of the underline and down the beginning (just the beginning!) of the five answer choices to look for one early clue as to what this sentence is testing.

The answer choices alternate between  they advertise and that they advertise , which indicates a possible issue with Structure or Modifiers. The long underline and long sentence are also good indicators to pay close attention to Structure.

Issues:  
(1) Modifiers/Meaning
Answer choices (A) and (E) both put the modifier in their commercials right after the noun businesses. This seems to imply that the businesses are located in their own commercials. Logically, the  lying  is taking place in the commercials. Eliminate answers (A) and (E) for illogical meaning.

You might be tempted to eliminate answer (C) for a similar reason. However, since the modifier  in their commercials  is set off by commas, the modifier is an adverb, describing the entire action (how the businesses are lying), not where the businesses are. This is an unusual structure, but it is correct, so don’t eliminate (C).

(2) Structure/Modifiers/Meaning
The primary split between answers (B), (C), and (D) is about how the consumers become suspicious (the split between  in order to  and so as to is a red herring, by the way—either is correct).

Consumers … 
 (A)  become suspicious of businesses lying … more frequently 
(B)  become suspicious of businesses that lie … more frequently 
(C)  become suspicious that businesses … are lying more frequently 
(D)  become suspicious of businesses lying … more frequently 
(E)  tend to suspect that businesses … will lie more frequently

None of these is grammatically incorrect, so consider meaning. Answers (A), (B), and (D) lay out the specific kinds of businesses that arouse suspicion in consumers: those  that lie  or are  lying more frequently . Answers (C) and (E), by contrast, state that consumers are suspicious that businesses  might  be lying more frequently.

After the underline, the sentence states that the phenomenon being discussed occurs even when the amount of dishonesty does not increase—that is, even when the businesses are not, in fact, lying more than they used to. Answers (A), (B), and (D), then, are illogical, since they imply that lying has definitively increased, not just that customers suspect it might increase. Eliminate answers (A), (B), and (D) for illogical meaning.

The Correct Answer:  Answer (C) correctly details a logical fear that consumers have: that businesses in general might start lying more in commercials because certain advertising regulations have been lifted. Answer (C) also corrects the error in the original sentence regarding the modifier  businesses in their commercials  by setting the modifier between commas, changing it from a noun modifier to an adverbial modifier.

Red Herring Alert! The opening split between  they advertise and that they advertise  is a red herring. Both options are acceptable ways to modify the word before the underline,  products .

kratos0906 · Answer

I believe that this is essentially a meaning question. The intended meaning is that consumers become suspicious of the act of businesses lying more frequently.

The only option which conveys this intended meaning is option C. All the options suggest that consumers are suspicious of businesses rather than the act of lying more frequently.

Sarmadk5 · Answer

That modifier is missing. Only option B and D have "THAT" modifier. Option C correct as "in order to" idiomatic expression is correctly used.

Therefore, according to me, Correct answer is C.

AmanAngrish · Answer

IMO C
C correctly states that consumers are getting suspicious of businesses lying more frequently then they used to before. Here "In their commercials" is correctly modifying the businesses and also removing any ambiguity with respect to the use of "they".

Bhartii · Answer

C option. The sentence in given question is awkward.also in options “so as to” fit better in last line

Posted from my mobile device

Logxn97 · Answer

The answer is option C for the following reasons:

1. Options (A) and option (E) can be discarded as it mentions "... businesses in their commercials... " which conveys the incorrect meaning that the businesses are in their commercials.
2. Options (B) and (D) conveys the meaning that the customers tend to become suspicious in order to increase their profits which is logically wrong, moreover the "that" is unnecessary.

hence only option C is left and makes clear sense compared to the other options

Archit3110 · Answer

2/3 split
they advertise vs that they advertise
the latter is correct , because that is referring to companies 
option A/C/E can be eliminated
also suspicious that is wrong ... suspicious of is correct so option C can be eliminated on this basis as well..

between option B & D 
( B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to  in order to increase    in order to increase is not correct verb phrase also that lie than they used to leads to meaning issue

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to so as to increase  
suspicious of is correct usage .. lying verb is present tense which is correct with meaning... active voice

OPTION D is correct

neetib · Answer

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase -- correct

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses  that  lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to in order to increase ---incorrect because of that used

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to  so as to  increase--- same as c

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials  will  lie more frequently than they used to for an increase in--- will is wrong here

TBT · Answer

*such a long sentence

* It was difficult. Let's see if my approach is correct: that is not required in beginning. so b and d are out. In a and e : "their" can refer to businesses or commercials so out E also has tense issue. Will lie is wrong. Ans: C

mysterymanrog · Answer

IMO, I am going with C on this one.

A) Meaning issue. Consumers become more suspicious of businesses in their commercial? No, they are suspicious that they will lie more, not of the businesses themselves.

B) Meaning issue. Consumers become more suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials. This implies that there are some businesses who are indeed lying, which creates an illogical meaning as the underline portion states that "even when no increase of dishonest advertisements occurs".

C) Looks good to me. Keep.

D) The entire phrase after "suspicious of businesses lying.." is a modifier. This creates a very illogical meaning.

E) Also looks fine. Keep.

C vs E.

IMO, C has a better meaning. C clearly states that consumers are suspicious that businesses are lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase revenue.

E, by using the future tense (will), changes the meaning slightly. Additionally, the usage of "lying FOR an increase in revenues" makes it seem they are lying for the increase in revenues, not to increase revenues as C implies.

C wins, at least to me.

HarshaBujji · Answer

When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products  they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase  revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

products they advertise, Need that inorder to avoid SV agreement error, There are more than 2 subjects in the same clause.

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials will lie more frequently than they used to for an increase in

We can eliminate the above 3 choices.

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to  in order to increase

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to  so as to increase   So as to be idiom

IMO B

VAL1195 · Answer

The correct answer should be C by POE.

rxb266 · Answer

When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products  they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase  revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses  in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to  in order to increase

This is an awkward construction. It is the businesses that are lying via commercials. This sentence has a problem with the meaning.

(B) that they advertise are loosened,  consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials  more frequently than they used to in order to increase

This is again an awkward construction. Customers are suspicious of businesses  IN GENERAL . Not specifically of businesses  THAT  lie in their commercials. There is a subtle yet a drastic change in the meaning of this sentence

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase

There are no errors and hence this is likely the answer.

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials  more frequently than they used  to so as to increase

The portion in RED modifies consumers and makes the entire meaning absurd. Hence this is incorrect.

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their  commercials will lie more frequently  than they used to for an increase in

The use of future tense in this sentence is unnecessary and makes this choice incorrect.

IMO Option C

sr800 · Answer

B because second part " business that lie" makes the most sense.

LeopardLiu · Answer

Answer is E 
When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase  suspicious of ... lying more than used to is wrong

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to in order to increase  suspicious of businesses that lie Wrong

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase  to become suspicious wrong

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to so as to increase  same as A

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials will lie more frequently than they used to for an increase in  Correct

sivatx2 · Answer

When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products  they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase  revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

When regulations are loosened - means that even is not yet happened, and refers to future state.
At the end of sentence, 'even when no increase...occurs' again is in future state.
That means consumers will suspect that commericals will lie (future and not present/past/present continous) 
Example: When regulations are loosened, I suspect that commercials will lie

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses  in their commercials lying  more frequently than  they  used to in order to increase
 Eliminate A due to pronoun reference error. is it referencing consumers or businesses?

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers  tend to become suspicious  of  businesses that lie  in their commercials more frequently than they used to in order to increase
 'tend to suspect' is better idiom. Tense error, future tense expected 'will lie'.

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials,  are lying  more frequently than they used to  so as  to increase
 present continuous tense usage is incorrect. 'so as' idiom is also wrong. Eliminate C

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses  lying  in  their  commercials more frequently than  they  used to  so as  to increase
 Pronoun reference errors and idiom issue, eliminate D

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials  will lie  more frequently than they used to for an increase in
 Keep E as all idiom, tenses and pronoun references are correct.

Hence, the correct answer choice is E

lunalight · Answer

The answer is D

D meets "that they....referring to the company", "suspicious of...correct idiom"

Vatsal7794 · Answer

When regulations that limit what companies are able to claim about the products they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase revenue, even when no increase in dishonest advertisements occurs.

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently than they used to in order to increase

consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses in consumers commercial - That not right meaning

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials more frequently than they used to in order to increase

Correct

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase

That is missing

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials more frequently than they used to so as to increase

Same as A

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials will lie more frequently than they used to for an increase in

That is missing

szcz · Answer

(A) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to  become suspicious of businesses in their commercials lying more frequently  than they used to in order to increase.  The underlined portion changes the meaning of the sentence.

(B) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to  become suspicious of businesses that lie in their commercials  more frequently than they used to in order to increase.  This option too changes the meaning of the sentence. Consumers do not tend to be suspicious of businesses that lie, rather consumers tend to be suspicious that businesses would like.

(C) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to become suspicious that businesses, in their commercials, are lying more frequently than they used to so as to increase.  Correct Answer.

(D) that they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to  become suspicious of businesses lying in their commercials  more frequently than they used to so as to increase.  Meaning Error

(E) they advertise are loosened, consumers tend to suspect that businesses in their commercials will lie more frequently than  they  used to for an increase in.  "They" is ambiguous.

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