Sentence Correction Question Clarification

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 4:44 pm
Here is the question:

The housing prices in various countries, some of them at significant rates, are increasing just as the interest rates are, yet being still low enough to avoid an inflationary effect.

a.) The housing prices in various countries, some of them at significant rates, are increasing just as the interest rates are, yet being
b.) Both interest rates and housing prices of various countries are increasing, some at significant rates, but they are
c.) Although like the interest rates the housing prices are increasing, some of them at significant rates, yet
d.) As the interest rates, the housing prices are increasing, some of them at significant rates, but they are
e.) The housing prices of various countries are increasing like the interest rates, some of which at significant rates are increasing but


The correct answer here is b.). Although this answer looks like the best, there are a couple of concerns I had:

1.) It seems to me that the subject is switched in this answer. In the original question, the subject is 'housing prices' but in this answer the subject becomes 'housing prices and interest rates'. I was under the impression that the original sentence was using interest rates simply as an example of the first part of the sentence.

2.) Is there ambiguity in the antecedent, 'they'? Could it not refer to either 'housing prices and interest rates' or 'various countries'.

Thanks in advance for the clarification!
Source: — Sentence Correction |

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 10:04 am
Thanked: 5 times

by apex231 » Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:11 am
Is OE available for this?

Legendary Member
Posts: 995
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:56 pm
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:1 members

by paes » Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:18 am
Not convince with B.

B looks to change the meaning of the sentence.

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:20 pm
Thanked: 74 times
Followed by:4 members

by uwhusky » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:01 am
Anytime you use the conjunction "and", the subject changes to plural. So they is correct, and not ambiguous when you remove the sub-clause (read only the bold part):
"Both interest rates and housing prices of various countries are increasing, some at significant rates, but they are still low enough to avoid an inflationary effect."

Legendary Member
Posts: 1119
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 8:50 am
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:3 members

by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:24 pm
max.s.miller wrote:Here is the question:

The housing prices in various countries, some of them at significant rates, are increasing just as the interest rates are, yet being still low enough to avoid an inflationary effect.

a.) The housing prices in various countries, some of them at significant rates, are increasing just as the interest rates are, yet being
b.) Both interest rates and housing prices of various countries are increasing, some at significant rates, but they are
c.) Although like the interest rates the housing prices are increasing, some of them at significant rates, yet
d.) As the interest rates, the housing prices are increasing, some of them at significant rates, but they are
e.) The housing prices of various countries are increasing like the interest rates, some of which at significant rates are increasing but


The correct answer here is b.). Although this answer looks like the best, there are a couple of concerns I had:

1.) It seems to me that the subject is switched in this answer. In the original question, the subject is 'housing prices' but in this answer the subject becomes 'housing prices and interest rates'. I was under the impression that the original sentence was using interest rates simply as an example of the first part of the sentence.

2.) Is there ambiguity in the antecedent, 'they'? Could it not refer to either 'housing prices and interest rates' or 'various countries'.

Thanks in advance for the clarification!
B seems to change the meaning

• Page 1 of 1