Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers, significantly compounding THE EFFECTS of drug and alcohol abuse, WHICH already COST business more than $100 billion a year.
On the GMAT, which + PLURAL VERB serves to refer to the nearest preceding plural noun.
Here, which already cost (plural) serves to refer to the effects (the nearest preceding plural noun).
Conveyed meaning:
THE EFFECTS of drug and alcohol abuse already COST business more than $100 billion a year.
drug and alcohol abuse
Here, drug and alcohol serves as an adjective modifying abuse.
What KIND of abuse?
DRUG AND ALCOHOL abuse.
Put another way:
drug and alcohol abuse = THE ABUSE of drugs and alcohol.
Since drug and alcohol abuse is singular, it cannot serve as the referent for which + PLURAL VERB.
On the GMAT, which + PLURAL VERB serves to refer to the nearest preceding plural noun.
Here, which already cost (plural) serves to refer to the effects (the nearest preceding plural noun).
Conveyed meaning:
THE EFFECTS of drug and alcohol abuse already COST business more than $100 billion a year.
drug and alcohol abuse
Here, drug and alcohol serves as an adjective modifying abuse.
What KIND of abuse?
DRUG AND ALCOHOL abuse.
Put another way:
drug and alcohol abuse = THE ABUSE of drugs and alcohol.
Since drug and alcohol abuse is singular, it cannot serve as the referent for which + PLURAL VERB.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Tue Feb 09, 2016 4:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
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