Sentence Correction

140. As the housing affordability gap widens, middle-income families are especially hard-hit, and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and rising rental rates force them to use far more than the standard 25 percent of their incomes for housing, leaving them with no equity or tax write-offs to offset the expenditures.
(A) and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and
(B) since these families can no longer afford to buy homes, furthermore
(C) for these families can no longer afford to buy homes, yet
(D) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes; however,
(E) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes, for

Please explain in detail.

f2001290 wrote:140. As the housing affordability gap widens, middle-income families are especially hard-hit, and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and rising rental rates force them to use far more than the standard 25 percent of their incomes for housing, leaving them with no equity or tax write-offs to offset the expenditures.
(A) and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and
(B) since these families can no longer afford to buy homes, furthermore
(C) for these families can no longer afford to buy homes, yet
(D) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes; however,
(E) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes, for

Please explain in detail.

I'd vote for B.

The second part of the sentence shows what the families go through
in addition to being hard-hit.

"yet, however, for" do not indicate "in addition to". So eliminate
C, D and E

A is a bit awkward "As the ..., and" doesn't gel well.

C and D alter the intent of the sentence hence eliminate them....B creates a sentence fragment....E clearly explains why families can no longer afford to buy homes by explaining the link between high rentals and lack of equity....the use of the word "for" is critical

But the answer given is C.

C --> For is used here to refer "because".

it is C

for shows reason and yet shows contrast

As the housing affordability gap widens, middle-income families are especially hard-hit, for these families can no longer afford to buy homes, yet rising rental rates force them to use far more than the standard 25 percent of their incomes for housing, leaving them with no equity or tax write-offs to offset the expenditures

f2001290 wrote:But the answer given is C.

Hi,

Where are these answers given? Really need to know.Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!

According to me the answer should be B and not c. The first part of both the sentences 'for' and 'since', because, but the difference is whether 'furthermore' is preferred or 'yet' is preferred.
According to me there is no contradiction expressed in the statement. In fact an added liability is stated in the second half of the sentence for the families.