BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Unemployment rate 4 percent

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

Unemployment rate 4 percent

by mundasingh123 » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:14 am
Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per ce ... ob seekers.

(A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
OA D[/spoiler]
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1460
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:28 am
Thanked: 135 times
Followed by:7 members

by selango » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:27 am
IMO D.

Economists assumed that..So if is used..The meaning is clear.
Last edited by selango on Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
--Anand--
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:27 am
mundasingh123 wrote:Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per ce ... ob seekers.

(A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
OA D[/spoiler]
Quickest approach:

When we're comparing two things (in this case, jobs and job seekers), we use the word between. Among is used only when we're comparing more than two things. Eliminate A, B, and E.

In C, the verb is needs to be replaced with the verb would be because the answer choice is using the subjunctive mood to describe a hypothetical situation: were the unemployment rate four percent, there would be a rough balance. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is D.

What is the source of this question?
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
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
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1083
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:38 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:14 members

by gmat_perfect » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:34 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
mundasingh123 wrote:Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per ce ... ob seekers.

(A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
OA D[/spoiler]
Quickest approach:

When we're comparing two things (in this case, jobs and job seekers), we use the word between. Among is used only when we're comparing more than two things. Eliminate A, B, and E.

In C, the verb is needs to be replaced with the verb would be because the answer choice is using the subjunctive mood to describe a hypothetical situation: were the unemployment rate four percent, there would be a rough balance. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is D.

What is the source of this question?
Thanks for the nice explanation.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

by mundasingh123 » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:59 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
mundasingh123 wrote:Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per ce ... ob seekers.

(A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
OA D[/spoiler]
Quickest approach:

When we're comparing two things (in this case, jobs and job seekers), we use the word between. Among is used only when we're comparing more than two things. Eliminate A, B, and E.

In C, the verb is needs to be replaced with the verb would be because the answer choice is using the subjunctive mood to describe a hypothetical situation: were the unemployment rate four percent, there would be a rough balance. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is D.

What is the source of this question?
Thanks Mitch for the explanation.I got this question on the BTG forum itself and since there were no convincing explanations in that thread i thought of seeking your help.
1 more doubt,
as you said "were" signifies the subjunctive mood and "would be " has to be used.
Since D is having the conditional If shouldnt D also have "would be"?
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

by mundasingh123 » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:00 am
gmat_perfect wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:
mundasingh123 wrote:Until quite recently, American economists have assumed that the unemployment rate being four per ce ... ob seekers.

(A) the unemployment rate being four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(B) should the unemployment rate be four per cent, there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers
(C) were the unemployment rate four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(D) if the unemployment rate is four per cent, there is a rough balance between jobs and job seekers
(E) there is a rough balance among jobs and job seekers when there is an unemployment rate that is four per cent
OA D[/spoiler]
Quickest approach:

When we're comparing two things (in this case, jobs and job seekers), we use the word between. Among is used only when we're comparing more than two things. Eliminate A, B, and E.

In C, the verb is needs to be replaced with the verb would be because the answer choice is using the subjunctive mood to describe a hypothetical situation: were the unemployment rate four percent, there would be a rough balance. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is D.

What is the source of this question?
Thanks for the nice explanation.
You can thank Mitch by editing the tab above the message section
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:10 am
mundasingh123 wrote:
Thanks Mitch for the explanation.I got this question on the BTG forum itself and since there were no convincing explanations in that thread i thought of seeking your help.
1 more doubt,
as you said "were" signifies the subjunctive mood and "would be " has to be used.
Since D is having the conditional If shouldnt D also have "would be"?
The word if does not always indicate the subjunctive mood:

If you are happy, then I am happy.

The sentence above is describing something that could be true, so the subjunctive mood is not required. You might be happy, and if you are, I too am happy.

Answer choice D also is describing something that could be true, so the subjunctive mood is not required.

The following sentences are hypothetical and require the subjunctive mood:

If you were happy, then I would be happy.
Were you happy, I would be happy.

The statements above are hypothetical; they express information that is contrary-to-fact. I know that you are not happy, but if you were, I too would be happy. Notice how the verbs change to reflect the hypothetical situation and to indicate the subjunctive mood.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
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
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

by mundasingh123 » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:23 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
mundasingh123 wrote:
Thanks Mitch for the explanation.I got this question on the BTG forum itself and since there were no convincing explanations in that thread i thought of seeking your help.
1 more doubt,
as you said "were" signifies the subjunctive mood and "would be " has to be used.
Since D is having the conditional If shouldnt D also have "would be"?
The word if does not always indicate the subjunctive mood:

If you are happy, then I am happy.

The sentence above is describing something that could be true, so the subjunctive mood is not required. You might be happy, and if you are, I too am happy.

Answer choice D also is describing something that could be true, so the subjunctive mood is not required.

The following sentences are hypothetical and require the subjunctive mood:

If you were happy, then I would be happy.
Were you happy, I would be happy.

The statements above are hypothetical; they express information that is contrary-to-fact. I know that you are not happy, but if you were, I too would be happy. Notice how the verbs change to reflect the hypothetical situation and to indicate the subjunctive mood.
Its very clear now,thanks , Mitch
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1