In 1997, despite an economy that marked its sixth full year of uninterrupted expansion with the lowest jobless rate in a quarter century, the number of United States citizens declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at 1.34 million.

A. declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at
B. declaring themselves bankrupt jumped by almost 20 percent, to
C. who declared themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, to
D. who declared themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20percent, at
E. to declare themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at

force5 wrote:

In 1997, despite an economy that marked its sixth full year of uninterrupted expansion with the lowest jobless rate in a quarter century, the number of United States citizens declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at 1.34 million.

A. declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at
B. declaring themselves bankrupt jumped by almost 20 percent, to
C. who declared themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, to
D. who declared themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20percent, at
E. to declare themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at

IMO B is correct

A) at 1.34 million is incorrect
B) to is correct and simple past tense is needed.
C) has jumped is incorrect since past event.
D) at 1.34 million is incorrect
E) at 1.34 million is incorrect

force5 wrote:percentage jumps from x ( some number) to Y (some number)

also D is saying that the united states citizens who declared.... jumped ( because of who we are talking about the citizens here) where as we need to talk about the number .... since its increasing... (B) tells us that the number jumped....

hope that helps

lavinia wrote:In 1997, despite an economy that marked its sixth full year of uninterrupted expansion with the lowest jobless rate in a quarter century, the number of United States citizens declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at 1.34 million.

A. declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at
B. declaring themselves bankrupt jumped by almost 20 percent, to
C. who declared themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, to
D. who declared themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20percent, at
E. to declare themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at

gmat_perfect wrote:

lavinia wrote:In 1997, despite an economy that marked its sixth full year of uninterrupted expansion with the lowest jobless rate in a quarter century, the number of United States citizens declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at 1.34 million.

A. declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at
B. declaring themselves bankrupt jumped by almost 20 percent, to
C. who declared themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, to
D. who declared themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20percent, at
E. to declare themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at

A tip:

1. When we see "In + year", we use past simple tense.

--> This eliminates A and C.

2. Almost by 20% Vs By almost 20%:

Almost 20% means nearly 20% or about 20%.

Almost by 20%---> it is not correct because Almost modifies by.

So, Almost 20% is correct.

This eliminates D and E.

Answer is B.