IMO: C

C has the error of redundancy.....annual cost / a year...

So C is not the answer

Is it D

It has been estimated that the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year.


the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year
$20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy
the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States is at least $20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues
illiteracy costs the United States at least $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues
lost industrial output and tax revenues cost the United States at least $20 billion a year because of illiteracy--> meaning changed

OA is D

Can anyone elaborate on the answer and other wrong answers ?

karthikpandian19 wrote:Can anyone elaborate on the answer and other wrong answers ?

It has been estimated that the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year.

the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year
$20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy
the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States is at least $20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues
illiteracy costs the United States at least $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues --> Correct
lost industrial output and tax revenues cost the United States at least $20 billion a year because of illiteracy--> meaning changed

First thing check for redundancy i.e. you dont need "annual" & "a year" both in same sentence. So A,B & C are out. Now E changes the meaning. hence D is the correct answer.

It has been estimated that the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year.


A] the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year

B] $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy

C] the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States is at least $20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues

D] illiteracy costs the United States at least $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues

E] lost industrial output and tax revenues cost the United States at least $20 billion a year because of illiteracy


A - wrong - use of annual cost and a year is the wrong usage...

B - wrong - use of annual cost and a year is the wrong usage + the sentence changes the overall
meaning of the sentence...

C - wrong - use of annual cost and a year is the wrong usage + the causal relationship in the
sentence is undermined....

E - wrong - two causal relations being said. It is like saying X causes Y and Y is caused by Z.
That itself changes the meaning of the sentence...


D - Correct answer - uses year and not annual cost together... at the same time conveys the correct causal statement saying X causes Y in Z. Means the effect is coming out in the form of Z i,e high costs in industrial output and higher taxes...


Hope this post really helped...