Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
grad_mba
It is well known in the supermarket industry that how items are placed on shelves and
the frequency of inventory turnovers can be crucial to profits.
(A) the frequency of inventory turnovers can be
(B) the frequency of inventory turnovers is often
(C) the frequency with which the inventory turns over is often
(D) how frequently is the inventory turned over are often
(E) how frequently the inventory turns over can be
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over can be crucial to profits.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Parallelism + Awkwardness/RedundancyA: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between "how items are placed on shelves" and "the frequency of inventory turnovers"; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ('and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers" with the singular verb "is"; please remember, two singular nouns joined by “and” function as one plural noun. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "is often"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
frequently crucial to profits; the intended meaning is that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
possibly crucial to profits. Additionally, Option B fails to maintain parallelism between "how items are placed on shelves" and "the frequency of inventory turnovers"; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ('and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "how items are placed on shelves and the frequency with which the inventory turns over" with the singular verb "is"; please remember, two singular nouns joined by “and” function as one plural noun. Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "is often"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
frequently crucial to profits; the intended meaning is that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
possibly crucial to profits. Additionally, Option C fails to maintain parallelism between "how items are placed on shelves" and "the frequency with which the inventory turns over"; please remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ('and" in this sentence) must be parallel. Besides, Option C uses the needlessly wordy phrase "the frequency with which the inventory turns over", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
D: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "are often"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
frequently crucial to profits; the intended meaning is that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
possibly crucial to profits. Further, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase "how frequently is the inventory turned over", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun phrase "how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over" with "can", which can refer to both plural and singular nouns. Further, Option E uses the phrase "can be", conveying the intended meaning - that how items are placed on shelves and how frequently the inventory turns over is
possibly crucial to profits. Additionally, Option E maintains parallelism between "how items are placed on shelves" and "how frequently the inventory turns over". Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "And" vs "Other Conjunctions" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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45%
(medium)
42%
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