1000 SC#113

magical cook · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:28 pm Post subject: 1000 SC#113

Hi,

The answer is B) but it looks to me A) is also gramatically okay.... Can anyone help me understand what is wrong with A)?

Analysts blamed May’s sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.

(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed
(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing
(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed
(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing
(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed

jayhawk2001 · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject:

In A, "which" is incorrectly placed -- it should be referring to the
weather as the weather is the cause for the slow-down. Instead it
seems to modify "some regions". The non-restrictive clause "colder
and wetter than was usual in some regions" should be introduced
by which.

magical cook · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject:

Okay - "which" needs to be placed right after the noun that needs explanation by "which". I got it!

Cybermusings · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:15 am Post subject:

C & D can be eliminated right away. colder and wetter "than usually" is faulty. A is wrong because the placement of the word "which" should be before colder and wetter and not afterwards. E uses a perfect tense when not needed. Hence the answer is B