Is this question testing If____ then___ conditional?

richachampion wrote:Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.

A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they siaregn a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were

B: Not one of the investors...until they sign a merger agreement
C: Not one of the investors...until a merger agreement...signed by them
In these options, they and them seem to refer to investors.
As a result, the conveyed meaning seems to be that the INVESTORS will be merging WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that one of the investors will merge with the BANK.
Eliminate B and C.

D and E: Not one...are expected
Here, are expected (plural) does not agree with one (singular).
Eliminate D and E.

The correct answer is A.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

richachampion wrote:Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.

A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they siaregn a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were

B: Not one of the investors...until they sign a merger agreement
C: Not one of the investors...until a merger agreement...signed by them
In these options, they and them seem to refer to investors.
As a result, the conveyed meaning seems to be that the INVESTORS will be merging WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that one of the investors will merge with the BANK.
Eliminate B and C.

D and E: Not one...are expected
Here, are expected (plural) does not agree with one (singular).
Eliminate D and E.

The correct answer is A.

If____ then___ is not tested here?

richachampion wrote:If____ then___ is not tested here?

B and D: if the deal was not concluded
Here, was not concluded (simple past tense) refers to an action in the PAST.
Not the intended meaning.
The intention here is to express an action that might or might not happen in the FUTURE, as conveyed by the OA:
if the deal WERE NOT TO BE CONCLUDED.
The verb in blue refers to a hypothetical action in the future.
Eliminate B and D.

A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were - CORRECT
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was - If-were: use of subjective is required
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were - 'be signed' is awkward
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was - same as B
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were - use of 'is'instead of 'are' before expected (not one of the investors)