A land-use planning institute in the Great Plains cites

Question

A land-use planning institute in the Great Plains cites sharp declines in population and prosperity, marked by a 50-percent decrease in the population of some cities and by an equivalent decrease in the median income throughout the region,  as major reasons to set aside the area they call  the Plains Commons reserve. 

(A) as major reasons to set aside the area they call 
(B) that are the major reasons to set aside the area they call 
(C) as the major reason to set aside the area it calls 
(D) that is the major reason to set aside the area called 
(E) as major reasons to set aside the area it calls 
 
Please explain your answers.

IndianJaguar · Answer

Looks like E.

Two reasons cited 
1) a 50-percent decrease in the population of some cities
2) a 50-percent decrease in the median income throughout the region

land-use planning institute is singular and therefore "it calls"

eyunni · Answer

soomodh, What happens if I modify the sentence as shown below (eliminate the phrase: marked by a 50-percent.....region)? Will your answer change to (C)?
 
A land-use planning institute in the Great Plains cites sharp declines in population and prosperity     as major reasons to set aside the area they call the Plains Commons reserve.

beckee529 · Answer

are sharp declines and population one or two reasons? i dont think that what's inside the comma is what they call the reasons. whats the OA?

eyunni · Answer

My understanding was that "sharp declines  " is one single reason. That is why I chose (C). But OA is (E). I am still not sure. Any comments?

pmenon · Answer

hmm, i picked C as well, as i considered the reasons together as one single unit

beckee529 · Answer

yeah this is a tricky one, definitely would have picked C on the test

i would have thought one unit as well but here it seems 1)sharp declines in population 2)sharp declines in prosperity so i guess thats why E would make sense

eyunni · Answer

It still does not make sense to me. Which one is preferred? (C) or (E)? Let's assume for now that OA is not the perfect answer choice.

IndianJaguar · Answer

eyunni,
I am not sure either, but I think here it happened to be that the two percent numbers are the same but the decrease in population and decrease in median income may not be a single thing. With population decrease median income could go up or come down, so I think two different items. But can vouch 100% that this is the reason for E. My be decline is population and decline in prosperity are two different things combined by "and" therefore you need plural, how about that

appuvar · Answer

My take is E.

But the reasons for choosing E are different.

1. It should be used and NOT They. Hence choices are either C or E
2. As there are more than one reason - sharp decrease in population and prosperity, E is the right answer.

A land-use planning institute in the Great Plains cites

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