What brought the automobile company back from the verge of bankruptcy

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Pronouns + Verb Forms + Tenses + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.

A: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the simple past tense verb “brought” to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Further, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

B: Trap. This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy phrase “The thing that brought”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy phrase “That which averted”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" – “Bringing” in this sentence) to refer to an event that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.

E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb phrase “has brought” to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.

Hence, A is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team