The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect

Question

The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter

reflect
- both
  - the success of its restructured global bottling system
- and
  - the extent
    - to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

(A) reflect the success of both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep

(B) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping

(C) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent of poor currency exchange rates keeping

(D) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping

(E) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rages are keeping

https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/29/business/company-reports-coca-cola-profit-increases-7-in-quarter.html

The results were the first to be reported under M. Douglas Ivester since he succeeded Roberto C. Goizueta, who died in October, as chairman and chief executive. They reflected  both the success of the company's restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are dragging  down profits for multinational companies.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Accepted Answer

VKat , I see where you're coming from, but both are noun phrases ("the success. . . " and "the extent . . . "). The switch you made in rewriting ("of" vs. "to which") makes a big difference. If I say "the extent of X is . . .," then the subject is "extent" and the verb is "is." However, if I say "the extent to which X is . . .," then our subject-verb pair is "X is." "Extent" has no verb and does not form a clause of its own.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

the extent of X  =  the degree to which X has spread 
Example:
 the extent of the problem  =  the degree to which the problem has spread 
This meaning makes sense.
A problem can spread from one place to another.

One reason to eliminate C:

C:  the extent of...exchange rates 
Conveyed meaning:
 the degree to which exchange rates have spread 
This meaning is nonsensical.
Exchange rates do not spread from one place to another.

trungnguyenn · Answer

The soft drink company's flat earnings for the second quarter  reflect the success of both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep  down profits for multinational companies.

Both X and Y  parallelism should be applied. Hence eliminate A, D and E.

In C, " the extent of poor currency exchange rates keeping ", there are incorrect meaning since  the soft drink company's flat earnings  do not reflect  poor currency exchange rates . So eliminate C.

B  correct.

A. reflect the success of  both  its restructured global bottling system and     the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep

B. reflect  both the success  of its restructured global bottling system and  the extent  to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping

C. reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and  the extent of poor currency exchange rates keeping

D.  both  reflects the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping

E.  both  reflects the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates keep

daagh · Answer

(B) Reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping 
The parallelism here is one of the correlative conjunction "both … and" or in template terms, reflect --both X and Y-- where X is --the success of its restructured global bottling system and --where Y is -- the extent to which poor currency exchange rates ...

VKat · Answer

Hello expert,

I eliminated option 'b' because "the success of its restructured global bottling system" is a phrase and " the extent of poor currency rates are keeping" is a clause, then how can it be parallel?

KittyDoodles · Answer

Hi,

Please can someone explain why Option C is incorrect.

Thanks

Anshul1223333 · Answer

in B] to ensure parallel X and Y

X: noun phrase: the success of its restructured global bottling system 
and

Y: (verb) the extent to which poor currency exchange rates ARE keeping

I am hoping 'are' is associated with 'exchange rates'

EducationAisle · Answer

Basically you need to read this as:

....both X (the success of its restructured global bottling system) and Y (the extent)

Notice that X and Y are both noun-phrases. Hence, B is parallel.

Note that "to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping..." is just a  modifier , modifying "the extent".

For example:

Peter likes chocolate waffles and fries that are overcooked.

Again, the parallelism is between the two noun phrases "chocolate waffles" and "fries";  that are overcooked  is just a modifier, modifying  fries .

nikitathegreat · Answer

Arent there two verbs here? "reflect" and "are keeping"?

jim441 · Answer

IS "the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep down profits for multinational companies" a phrase or clause?
I eliminated B coz I though that the sentence has Both phrase and Clause structure.

Thanks

egmat · Answer

Hey  jim441

Happy to help you with this.

Let's begin by deriving the Sentence Structure of choice B:

B: The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

Sentence Structure  : 
   The soft drink company’s flat   earnings   for the second quarter 
     reflect   
   both 
   the  success  of its restructured global bottling system   
  and 
   the  extent  
   to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

Observations  :
As we can see from the above, the words " to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies " modify the noun " extent ". Let's understand this group better:

to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies 
   This is a Dependent Clause (DC) which behaves as a noun modifier (adjective)
  It is confusing because it starts with the preposition "  to  ". 
   This is because of the rule that " whenever a DC starting with a "which" ends in a preposition, we must place the preposition at the start of the DC before 'which' ". In other words...
   (the extent)  which  poor currency exchange  rates are keeping down profits  for multinational companies   to  
 becomes  
  (the extent)   to    which  poor currency exchange  rates are keeping down profits  for multinational companies

So, poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies  to an extent . The earnings reflect the extent  to which   poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

I hope this helps improve your understanding of Sentence Structure Analysis.

Happy Learning!

Abhishek

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Parallelism

• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.

A: 
1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "both its restructured global bottling system and the extent"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the success its restructured global bottling system and   the success of   the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies; the intended meaning is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and   the extent   to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

B:   Correct. 
1/ This answer choice uses the phrase "both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which", conveying the intended meaning - that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect two things - the success of its restructured global bottling system and   the extent to which   poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.
2/ Option C maintains parallelism between A ("the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("the extent to which...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B".

C: 
1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "the extent of poor currency exchange rates"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the extent of   those poor currency exchange rates   that are keeping down profits for multinational companies; the intended meaning is that the soft drink company’s flat earnings reflect the extent   to which   poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

D: 
1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B"; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.

E: 
1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system") and B ("to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping...companies") in the idiomatic construction "both A and B"; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Raman109 · Answer

The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter

reflect
- both
  - the success of its restructured global bottling system
- and
  - the extent
    - to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping down profits for multinational companies.

Option Elimination -

Bit of basics here

The "extent of" is used when discussing a degree of something without mentioning a criteria or a specific condition. For example, The report discussed the extent of environmental damage caused by the oil spill. Here, the report examined the degree or magnitude of the environmental damage.

The "extent to which" is used to discuss the degree to which something is true about a specific condition or criterion. It is typically followed by a clause or phrase that provides more information about the specific condition or criterion being evaluated.
For example, The study examined the extent to which technology influences students' learning outcomes. Here, the study analyzed the degree or level to which technology impacts learning outcomes.

(A) reflect the success of both its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates keep - "the success" applies to both - its restricted global bottling system - ok. But saying "the success the extent to which poor currency exchange rates remain" is not okay. Wrong.

(B) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent to which poor currency exchange rates are keeping - ok. "the extent to which" is followed by a clause and establishes the right cause and effect relationship between "exchange rates" and "the profits." ok

(C) reflect both the success of its restructured global bottling system and the extent of poor currency exchange rates keeping -

Take this example to understand the issue better -
Incorrect: "The extent of heavy rainfall affecting the flooding is keeping the roads closed."
Correct: "The extent to which heavy rainfall is causing flooding is keeping the roads closed."

The correct version links the cause (heavy rainfall) to the effect (flooding), using "the extent to which" to indicate the degree or level of impact.

In option C, the cause and effect between "exchange rates" and "the profits" is not established without "are." Without "are," keeping is just an ING verbal modifying rate.

(D) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping - Wrong as the verb "reflects" doesn't apply to both parts now.

(E) both reflect the success of its restructured global bottling system and to what extent poor currency exchange rates are keeping - Wrong as the verb "reflects" doesn't apply to both parts now.

The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect

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The soft drink company’s flat earnings for the second quarter reflect

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