With abundant natural resources, cheap labor forces, and

Question

With abundant natural resources, cheap labor forces, and developing markets, Central and South America were of significant economic interest to the United States because government officials feared that  if they did not establish a strong relationship, the economic tie were weakened by goods from the Far East .
 
(A) if they did not establish a strong relationship strong relationship, the economic tie were weakened by goods from the Far East

(B) without a strong relationship, the economic tie would be weakened by goods from the Far East

(C) the economic tie was weakened by goods from the Far East if they did not establish a strong relationship

(D) without a strong relationship, the economic tie could be weakened by goods from the Far East

(E) if they would not establish a strong relationship, the economic tie is weakened by goods from the Far East.

Please explain your answer and PLEASE explain why the other answer choices are wrong.
Thanks!

icandy · Answer

Now I am left with B & D. The only difference is would/could. I am choosing D because we need to show logical possibility (Hint: word feared)

bigtreezl · Answer

I chose B over D because the stimulus said "were" weakened

icandy · Answer

We have to make the correction based on the non underlined part, The underlined part is already wrong and adds little value in correcting itself. The non underlined part dictates the flow of the rest of the sentence as we cannot change it.

Now coming back to the Q, I remember from MGMAT SC book that will shows certainty and would shows uncertainty. I went back and looked into the book, could is also listed as the word that can show uncertainty

Googling, I found this BBC link  https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv195.shtml  which says would is for uncertainty and could is for permission/request.

then the same link says

Would have indicates certainty that he would have won if he had tried harder, could have indicates that it is a possibility.

Interesting!

bigfernhead · Answer

Toss up for me between B and D.

I went with B - would (certainty) I believe is what the author is trying to express.

Though, I do question the source of the Q, because both are grammatically correct.

bigtreezl · Answer

"were" of course is incorrect in the stimulus, but it is implying something factual, where as "could be" is not factual. "could be" changes the meaning.

icandy · Answer

I still don't get it. You are saying usage of were is wrong but it is implying is some thing factual? How can a wrong usage imply something factual? There is nothing factual here. Here we are clearly talking about a future issue and we are talking about a fear or uncertainty. As BFH said, grammatically both seem to be correct but probably would is correct usage as uncertainty is involved. The more I think, the more I feel that my assessment of logical possibility is wrong

amitdgr · Answer

tarek ... what is the source ???

I had tough time choosing between B and D. In the end I guessed B. I was not sure of the logical difference of would and could.

What is the OA ??

bigtreezl · Answer

from dictionary.com

would
(used in place of will, to make a statement or form a question less direct or blunt): That would scarcely be fair. Would you be so kind?

I am just saying that "were" is the plural past tense of the verb "to be". "will" is the future tense of the verb to be.

in using could instead of would it is like changing "I was at the store" to "I could have been at the store"
or "if you had come by my house and I wasn't home, I would have been at the store" to "if you came by my house and I wasnt home, I could have been at the store"

would suggests something definite, factual

tarek99 · Answer

the OA is B. The source of this question is bellcurves.com

I'm still trying to figure out the exact difference between "would" and "could." From what i know, both express uncertainty. However, "would" implies decision taking, whereas "could" expresses ability. But based on that logic, I chose D, which is wrong! :evil:

may be some more explanation can help me here.
thanks

may be some more explanation can help me here. thanks

stallone · Answer

i was muddled between B and D as well.

But here is my logic to choose B over D :

would over could :

here the the whole sentence is in the past tense :

B says : without a strong relationship, the economic tie would be  weakened  by goods from the Far East

since weakened is also a past form probably we will need to show the things happening at different time frames esp keeping in mind that 
the rest of the sentence (not underlined) ends with "feared" . Now some body will fear of something "to happen" ; that is something in the future 
But since weakened is also in past tense ... we will need "would" here to indicate different time frames ....

nganle08 · Answer

I think "were" is used to express uncertainty or unreality when "were" appears in the IF clause, not the main clause.
For example: If I WERE rich, I would donate money to rebuild my school.

In the answer choice, "were" appears in the main clause; and because it has to go with the singular subject "the economic tie", it is wrong.

scthakur · Answer

My reason for choosing B is that in a subjunctive clause, I have never seen "could". For example, 
If I ate there, I would develop stomach ache.

tarek99 · Answer

I will have to disagree with you. With unreal conditionals, you are allowed to use would, could, and might.

scthakur · Answer

Then, this is my learning. Could you please throw some examples?

LiveStronger · Answer

B A bit confused between 'would' in B and 'could' in D :roll:

tarek99 · Answer

ok,

1) If I were rich, I could travel more often.

2) If you kissed me, I would enjoy it.

3) If you apologized, I might forgive you.

As for the real conditionals, you are allowed to use will, can, may, and must because they imply future.

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