ANSWER IS AA question that highlight the importance of identifying "DECISION POINTS" in sentence correction.If one can identify the two main decision point in this sentence, it will take 10 seconds to read the stem, 5 seconds to identify the decision point another 10 seconds to eliminate all wrong options without too much trouble.
The continental United States receives an average of 30 inches of precipitation a year;
transpiration (SINGULAR and also the Subject of the clause) from soil and from plants
returns(CORRECT SUBJECT-VERB ) approximately 21 of the 30 inches to the atmosphere, while the balance of 9 inches contributes
to the flow (CORRECT VERB FORM) of streams and rivers.
A.
transpiration from soil and from plants
returns approximately 21 of the 30 inches to the atmosphere, while the balance of 9 inches contributes to the
flow CORRECT
B. even though
transpiration from soil and from plants
returns approximately 21 of the 30 inches to the atmosphere, the remainder of 9 inches contribute to the
flowingFLOWING is wrong :- It is an adjective, we need a verb.C. although transpiration from soil and from plants
return approximately 21 of the 30 inches to the atmosphere, the balance of 9 inches contribute to the
flowing"RETURN" is wrong. SV agreement dictates that we need singular verb -"RETURNS"D. with transpiration from soil and from plants to
return approximately 21 inches to the atmosphere, the rest of the 9 inches contributes to the flow
"RETURN" is wrong. SV agreement dictates that we need singular verb -"RETURNS"E. as transpiration from soil and from plants
return approximately 21 of the 30 inches to the atmosphere, the rest of the 9 inches contribute to the flow
"RETURN" is wrong. SV agreement dictates that we need singular verb -"RETURNS"