At the annual stockholders meeting, investors heard a

Question

At the annual stockholders meeting, investors heard a presentation on the numerous challenges facing the company,  including among them the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining sales for  the company's powerful microprocessor chip.

A. including among them the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining sales for
B. which includes the threat of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and declining sales of
C. included among these the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as a decline in sales for
D. among them the threat of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the decline in sales of
E. among these the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as the decline in sales for

Please accompany your answers with your reasoning.

Source:GMATPrep

angel2009 · Answer

At the annual stockholders meeting, investors heard a presentation on the numerous challenges facing the company, including among them the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining sales for the company's powerful microprocessor chip.

A. including among them the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining  sales for 
B.  which  includes the threat of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and declining sales of
C. included among  these  the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as a decline  in sales for 
D. among them the threat of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the decline in sales of --->  Correct 
E. among  these  the threat from a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as the decline in sales for

sudeep · Answer

Agree with D.
- 'sales of' is right.

But, why in B, 'which' is wrong? I think which is correct and can refer to the challenges. Problems in B is  includes  referring to plural subject.

Natia · Answer

sudeep
but "which" refers to company here, doesn't it?

sudeep · Answer

'numerous challenges (facing the company)' - Noun Phrase
'facing the company' is a participle modifier for the noun challenges.
which is modifying that noun phrase,i.e., challenges.

Please correct me if I am wrong!

smashingpumpkins · Answer

Yes ..which should refer to the company..in option (B)...Option D..seems to be the right one..OA plzz

sudeep · Answer

Can someone please confirm this!

bigoyal · Answer

Thanks a lot guys, OA is D

SMAbbas · Answer

Option B
B. which includes   the  threat  of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and  ( the ) declining sales of

Here "the" should be added with 'declining sales'

M I correct?

bigoyal · Answer

Agreed, trying to make noun parallel with complex gerund. 
But I think "which" is also incorrectly placed, as "company" is the closest noun.

bigoyal · Answer

guys, I have one more confusion.

shouldn't we have a verb like "include" before the sentence in option D
"among them the threat of a rival's multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the decline in sales of...."

What I feel is that without verb "include" the sentence becomes fragmented :roll:

ss12345 · Answer

"which" doesn't have to always refer to nearest noun, in most cases it does, but there are exceptions...I agree with sudeep...

ss12345 · Answer

Here is an example where 'which' is fine in (b):

Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was televised nationwide.

A. later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's 
participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 
1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was 
B. later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not 
become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the 
hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which were 
C. later in the Untied States House of Representatives, it was not until 1974 that 
Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure, with her participation in 
the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was 
D. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, not until 1974 did 
Barbara Jordan become a nationally recognized figure, as she participated in the 
hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, being 
E. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did 
not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the 
hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was

Feather225 · Answer

WHICH represents a sentence in this case, and it's not allowed in GMAT grammar.

LogicGuru1 · Answer

This is not as daunting a question as it appears. The decision point is easy   "sales for"  is an incorrect idiom .  The correct idiom is  "sales of"

1) Including among them the threat from a rival’s multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining  sales for 
 WRONG  :- Incorrect idiom  "sales for"  is incorrect ;  "sale of"  is correct idiom

2)  Which  includes the threat of a rival’s multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the declining sales of
 WRONG :-  "which"  is incorrectly modifying  company . " which " should modify  challenges

3) Included among these the treat from a rival’s multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as a decline in  sales for 
 WRONG  :- Incorrect idiom  "sales for"  is incorrect ;  "sale of"  is correct idiom

4) Among them the treat of a rival’s multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit and the decline in sales of
CORRECT:- Correct idiom; crisp and concise.

5) Among these the treat from a rival’s multibillion-dollar patent-infringement suit as well as the decline in  sales for 
 WRONG  :- Incorrect idiom  "sales for"  is incorrect ;  "sale of"  is correct idiom

At the annual stockholders meeting, investors heard a

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