Between 1990 and 2000, the annual precipitation in Henan,

Question

Between 1990 and 2000, the annual precipitation in Henan, one of the main agricultural provinces in central China,  has fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches per year, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether or not the  rapid economic growth of the province could be sustained in the future.

(A) has fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches per year, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether or not the

(B) fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches per year, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether or not the

(C) fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether its

(D) fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether or not the

(E) fluctuated from 250 to 470 inches, causing substantial variation in the productivity of local crops and making it difficult to predict whether the

GMATaddict · Answer

Based on what I learned from MGMAT, I would go with (E).

There is no reason to use present perfect, so A is out. "Whether or not" is unidiomatic, so A, B, & D are out. As for choice C, the possessive "Its" is superfluous (& not very clear), since we already have the phrase "of the province", which modifies "sustained econ growth", so we already know "whose" econ growth is being discussed in the sentence.

(E) is left by POE & by the rules; "fluctuated" (simple past) is used, "causing & making" is parallel, "whether" is idiomatic, the unnecessary "its" is not used.

topher · Answer

I also think E. The "its" in Ans C is ambiguous.

A & B are out b/c of "annual precipitation ... per year." The "per year" part is unnecessary.

D is out b/c of "whether or not." The "or not" part is unnecessary.

smashingpumpkins · Answer

I am going for E... 'Whether or not' in the other option is not required.

skim · Answer

Dear All,

Thanks for the great discussion.

The OA is E, and the official explanation is as follows:

The original sentence incorrectly uses the present perfect “has fluctuated” rather than the simple past “fluctuated” to describe a completed action that occurred in the past. Furthermore, the use of “annual amount” and “per year” is repetitive and wordy. Finally, the original sentence uses the redundant construction “whether or not” rather than the more concise “whether.”

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) In this answer choice, the use of “annual amount” and “per year” is repetitive and wordy. Also, this answer choice uses the redundant construction “whether or not” rather than the more concise “whether.”

(C) The use of the possessive pronoun “its” is redundant in the phrase “its rapid economic growth” because the non-underlined “of the province” that follows already indicates that the “rapid economic growth” belongs to the province.

(D) This answer choice uses the redundant construction “whether or not” rather than the more concise “whether.”

(E) CORRECT. This answer choice correctly uses the simple past “fluctuated” to describe a completed action that occurred in the past. Furthermore, this answer avoids the use of “per year,” a construction that is redundant after an earlier reference to “the annual amount of precipitation.” Finally, this answer choice replaces the wordy and unidiomatic phrase “whether or not” with the more concise “whether.”

Between 1990 and 2000, the annual precipitation in Henan,

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards