According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging

Question

49. According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.
(A) that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain
(B) that, because of double-digit unemployment, could be a severe strain for
(C) with double-digit unemployment, and it could severely strain
(D) with double-digit unemployment and could be a severe strain
(E) with double-digit unemployment and could severely strain

Please explain. Thanks!

empty_spaces · Answer

A

c,d,e are all odd because of the presence of "and" 
in b i think "that,because" is wrong.

Dellin · Answer

is it because when we omit "with two digit..." the sentence is right?

bmwhype2 · Answer

no

that  is a restrictive modifier.

with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.   is a subordinated clause.

with double-digit unemployment,  is an intro prepositional phrase

so basically what u have is independent clause + that + subordinated clause
where the subordinated clause is made a little more complex with an intro prepositional phrase

JuliaS · Answer

Still don't understand why B is wrong. Can someone please explain? Thanks!

LM · Answer

I'll go with the meaning conveyed by the sentence.

Sentence conveys ;

Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.

This is the basic essence of the sentence.

To add to the "danger of plunging into depression" is the the " double digit unemployment"

So what could severely strain a society is the "danger of plunging into depression" along with the " double digit unemployment".

C,D,E are eliminated because meaning of sentence changes which seems to imply that " Japan is plunging with double digit".

Now we are left with A and B.

But B seems to say that Japan is plunging into depression "because of" double digit unemployment, but that's not what the original sentence wants to convey.

So, you are left with "A".

I am not good in in depth grammatical terminology, but this is how I approached this.

anirudhoswal · Answer

Classic case of "eliminate the middleman" !! Remove the intervening phrase - with double digit unemplyment - and then answer A becomes clear.

rahulgoyal1986 · Answer

A <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":-D" title="Very Happy" />

raconteur · Answer

B for me.

It really comes down between A and B.

"That" is a restrictive modifier like BMW said. However, in A, it makes it sound that the depression itself has double-digit unemployment. In B, the "that, because of double-digit unemployment, could..." does a good job of modifying the depression PLUS the fact of double-digit unemployment, will put a strain on society.

I think the key is to separate the depression and unemployment clearly. BECAUSE of the double-digit unemployment, the depression's impact on society will be  especially  big. The main point of the passage is about the depression's impact on society. B shows/adds strength to WHY the depression's impact will be significant.

lionheart187 · Answer

Yes, I also felt that A says that  the depression  has  double digit unemployment  . What is the source of this question?

Also, are these questions, with very ambiguous answer choices, going to appear on the real test? <- no joke intended;)

marshpa · Answer

I also choose A and used following logic to delete B-
B uses severe, which is adjective to modify the strain which is another adjective. Hence wrong.

How is this approach?

raconteur · Answer

In this context, "strain" is a noun like "challenge",etc. In A, "strain" acts as a verb so there is a difference on how these two options use "strain". But "could be  a  severe  strain  for...." is grammatically fine.

prasannar · Answer

A is the best for me.

B is wordy and also severe strain  for a  society does not sound right to me, it is definitely wordy

that, because of double-digit unemployment, could be a severe strain for

According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging

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