Dean Jones wrote:Even though it was not illegal for the bank to share its customers' personal and financial information with an outside marketing company in return for a commission on sales, the state's attorney general accused the bank of engaging in deceptive business practices by failing to honor its promise to its customers to keep records private.

(A) by failing to honor its promise to its customers to keep
(B) by its failure of honoring its promise to its customers to keep
(C) in its failing to honor its promise to its customers of keeping
(D) because of its failure in honoring its promise to its customers in keeping
(E) because of its failure to honor its promise to its customers of keeping

Understanding the intended meaning is key to pick answer. The phrase after noun "deceptive business practices" must describe this noun further. The phrase should describe how the banks are engaged in deceptive practices. We need a prepositional modifier not an adverb modifier - adv modifier will modify verb ACCUSED while prep modifier can modify NOUN "PRACTICES".

Therefore drop D/E. Moreover generally BECAUSE phrases modify the entire clause.

Since we need a phrase that describe HOW banks were engaged in deceptive practices we need phrase with BY, not IN. Drop C. Moreover in C we have genrund 'keeping' - considered wordier over TO KEEP. The sentence also contains ITS 3 times - another sign of wordiness.

A/B - in B usage of OF HONORING is wordier. Moreover, the intent to show HOW BANKS ENGAGED IN DECEPTIVE PRACTICES is communicated better by usage of GERUND (ACTION: failing > its failure).

IMO A

IMO A.

It has been better explained by patanjali.

(A) by failing to honor its promise to its customers to keep
TO keep is needed for intend meaning
(B) by its failure of honoring its promise to its customers to keep
by its failure of honoring - wordy
(C) in its failing to honor its promise to its customers of keeping
Keeping wrong
(D) because of its failure in honoring its promise to its customers in keeping
Keeping wrong
(E) because of its failure to honor its promise to its customers of keeping
Keeping wrong

Should be A, for keeping doesnt sound right.

What is the answer Deano?

Thanks.

OA is option A

"By failing to honor" --> indicating how a bank engaged in deceptive practice ; seems more like
prepositional(+ adverbial) modifier.

It may very well modify "accused" thus giving a illogical meaning.

For the answer to be correct, it appears its modifying the phrase "engaging in deceptive practices"
more like a adverbial phrase modifying a whole clause.

Any thoughts?

patanjali.purpose wrote:

Dean Jones wrote:Even though it was not illegal for the bank to share its customers' personal and financial information with an outside marketing company in return for a commission on sales, the state's attorney general accused the bank of engaging in deceptive business practices by failing to honor its promise to its customers to keep records private.

(A) by failing to honor its promise to its customers to keep
(B) by its failure of honoring its promise to its customers to keep
(C) in its failing to honor its promise to its customers of keeping
(D) because of its failure in honoring its promise to its customers in keeping
(E) because of its failure to honor its promise to its customers of keeping

Understanding the intended meaning is key to pick answer. The phrase after noun "deceptive business practices" must describe this noun further. The phrase should describe how the banks are engaged in deceptive practices. We need a prepositional modifier not an adverb modifier - adv modifier will modify verb ACCUSED while prep modifier can modify NOUN "PRACTICES".

Therefore drop D/E. Moreover generally BECAUSE phrases modify the entire clause.

Since we need a phrase that describe HOW banks were engaged in deceptive practices we need phrase with BY, not IN. Drop C. Moreover in C we have genrund 'keeping' - considered wordier over TO KEEP. The sentence also contains ITS 3 times - another sign of wordiness.

A/B - in B usage of OF HONORING is wordier. Moreover, the intent to show HOW BANKS ENGAGED IN DECEPTIVE PRACTICES is communicated better by usage of GERUND (ACTION: failing > its failure).

IMO A