Yes, and that is precisely the point - the relative cost cannot, by itself, result in anything. The fact that it dropped could be the cause, but that fact is not the subject.

Isn't "resulting......." a present participle modifier that modifies the entire (previous) phrase /action? In this case
"the dropping of relative costs"


[quote="Geva@MasterGMAT"]Yes, and that is precisely the point - the relative cost cannot, by itself, result in anything. The fact that it dropped could be the cause, but that fact is not the subject.[/quote]

@Geva : Can you elaborate more why C can not be the answer . My question is why "resulting in" is incorrect ?

it is ing modifier modifying the whole previous clause. Inaddition, it is consequence of the first action (drop in relative cost), so it falls in the category of ing modifier rules as well. I dont get the explanation.

I am also confused why A cant be the answer here.

Geva can you pls explain this.

Thanks

There's three problems with (A) that eliminate it from contention.

First, the phrase after the comma is a modifying phrase (unlike (C) which has a complete clause in the second half). However, what "resulting in" modifies is unclear. It's supposed to modify the drop in relative cost, but the noun "drop" doesn't actually appear in the sentence. The entire "resulting in..." modifier seems like it is modifying the cost itself, or possibly even the year 1973.

Second, "resulting in the welfare system now costing" is an awkward construction. Though -ing verbs can be used grammatically correctly, the GMAT generally avoids them; back-to-back progressives are a sign that something is up.

Finally, the comparison that ends the underlined portion of the original is awkward. Note that the OP picked choice (C), which adds the phrase "it did", thus making the exact comparison more clear.

Of course, some of these rules are more clear cut than others; the last error, in particular, is one that doesn't really fit into a clear-cut grammatical definition and requires you to rely on your ear. However, that's fine--if we spot ANY of the errors in answer choice (A), we can eliminate it instantly without worrying about finding any other problems.

Eli, thanks for stepping in. I completely agree with you regarding the awkwardness of the gerund construction in A, and that is the main cause for eliminating it as far as I'm concerned. After doing some research, I'm actually on the fence regarding the modifying part - this problem seems very similar to the OG 12th ed Q47, where the participle is actually the correct answer.

My interpretation is that in Q47, the "five birds" are bringing the number from 29 to 34. On the other hand, the cost in the OP isn't resulting in anything; the decrease in cost is resulting in the change, rather than the cost itself, but the 'decrease' isn't directly reference. But I'll admit that I might be mistaken; fortunately, the double-"ing" is definitive. Again, this will often be the case on GMAT SC problems--if you're a little stuck on a grammar point, look to see if there is something elsewhere in the choice that will eliminate it. Some times it all boils down to a single issue and you need to make an educated guess, but other times you can dodge the bullet!