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OG 11 #120 SC

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by punitkaur » Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:33 am
It has been estimated that the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year.

(A) the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $20 billion a year

(B) the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States is at least $20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues

(C) illiteracy costs the United States at least $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues

(D) $20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to the United States of illiteracy

(E) lost industrial output and tax revenues cost the United States at least $20 billion a year because of illiteracy.

Can someone tell me why E is wrong? I can understand why OA C is correct. But why not E?
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by capnx » Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:09 pm
i think the original sentence's meaning is stressing the "cost of illiteracy" is at least 20billion where as E changes the meaning to "because of illiteracy" 20billion are lost
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by heshamelaziry » Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:26 pm
IMO C
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by tanviet » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:23 am
This question disturbs my life. I read the book "element of style" and " ten lessions in style" which said that if we use verb, the sentence is more direct and vigorous. you can read about norminalization but do not read too much, dont stray away from gmat

this is a problem of style, DIRECT AND VIGOROUS.

now, read the OG explanation, which normally is not clear

"make sentence more direct is to focus on subject and verb..."

"use of cost as a verb eliminates prepositional phrase..."

the lesion of this is that

1, what agent should be subject and verb in a sentence so that the sentence is direct, what is focus of interest. focus of interest decide what is subject and verb. see Q 203 in OG10

2, use verb to avoid prepositional phrase, making the sentence more direct (you can see the question 'irigation required by new variety..." Q 128 in OG10 and OG11 for this point)

Ron, Stacey, Stuart, pls,help us with this.
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by beatthegmat2910 » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:18 pm
"Because" is not preferred by GMAT. So if you have a correct choice with "Because" and one without , then go for the one that does not use "Because".
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by kiran.raze » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:05 pm
I think very simplistically speaking C, clearly illucidates the fact the oppurtunity cost (i.e the losses suffered due to illiteracy ) costs the US X bn a year through - lost industrial o/p etc... while option E messes up the meaning completely - its states that the losses in industrial o/p have cost x bn which is not true.

The intention is very clearly articulated in C .
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by kiran.raze » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:06 pm
I think very simplistically speaking C, clearly illucidates the fact the oppurtunity cost (i.e the losses suffered due to illiteracy ) costs the US X bn a year through - lost industrial o/p etc... while option E messes up the meaning completely - its states that the losses in industrial o/p have cost x bn which is not true.

The intention is very clearly articulated in C .
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