sam2304 wrote:If additional deposits of oil are found, it will expand the amount that can be used as fuel and reduce the price of oil, even if the deposits are not immediately tapped.

(A) it will expand the amount that can be used as fuel and reduce the price of oil
(B) the amount that is able to be used as fuel will expand and the price of oil be reduced
(C) it will cause an increase in the amount that is able to be used as fuel and a reduction in the price of oil
(D) the amount that can be used as fuel will increase and the price of oil will drop
(E) it will increase the amount of oil that can be used as fuel and cause a drop in the price

OA after discussions.

Tough one must say.

did not notice IT initially.

IT refering to DEPOSITS - DROP A/C/E

B - both parts of AND not parallel. 2nd part is in command subjunctive form BE REDUCED. From this perspective it changes the original meaning. Moreover, IMO usage of INCREASE with AMOUNT is better than EXPAND.

IS ABLE TO BE USED vs CAN BE USED - 2nd is preferred as we require passive construction here.
IMO D

If additional deposits of oil are found, it will expand the amount that can be used as fuel and reduce the price of oil, even if the deposits are not immediately tapped.

(A) it will expand the amount that can be used as fuel and reduce the price of oil
(B) the amount that is able to be used as fuel will expand and the price of oil be reduced
(C) it will cause an increase in the amount that is able to be used as fuel and a reduction in the price of oil
(D) the amount that can be used as fuel will increase and the price of oil will drop
(E) it will increase the amount of oil that can be used as fuel and cause a drop in the price

Step1=> If x, y.

We look for those options that maintain "If X, Y" construction.
No elimination on the basis of this rule.

Step2=> Stand alone " Amount" is very often wrong. "The amount of X" is correct.
Look for the options that have used stand alone "Amount".
We got A, B, C, and D--the options that have used stand alone amount. We can ignore them.
Answer should be E.

Beyond the general rule:

A. Amount cannot be used as fuel. Out.
B. Amount cannot be able. Out.
C. Amount cannot be able. Out.
D. Amount cannot be used as fuel. Out.

E--> Amount of oil can be used as fuel.

Finally the option E, which has correctly used "amount of X", is correct.

Tough one must say.

did not notice IT initially.

I did the same mistake as well initially. Went for E as it looked better.

OA : D[/quote]