Sentence Correction

By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company's products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

1. it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company's products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
2. a company's managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the company's products in order to meet its short and long term goals
3. it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of the company's products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
4. it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company's short and long term goals
5. managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of these products in order to meet the company's goals in both the short and long term.

MGMAT ( 600-700)

IMO B. OA?

B

OA??

I would choose E. In B there is no antecedent for "its"

Agree with Osirus. E.

This sentence begins with a modifier, yet leaves absent who will be applying optimization techniques (This is termed a "dangling" modifier.) Also, the sentence is unnecessarily wordy in its use of the phrases "ought to" and "in both the short and long terms."

(A) This choice incorrectly repeats the original sentence.

(B) CORRECT. The sentence correctly places "a company's managers" adjacent to the modifier such that the meaning is clear, and the sentence is otherwise concise.

(C) This answer does not correct the original modifier error. It also weakens the sentence by replacing the active voice with the passive voice in its use of "can be determined by company managers." The sentence's concluding use of "goals, both short and long term" is awkward.

(D) This answer does not correct the original modifier error. In this choice, the phrase "may be possible" is unnecessary and weakens the sentence. This choice also incorrectly uses the word "these," as the products have not been referenced earlier in the sentence.

(E) This sentence resolves the modifier issue, but incorrectly uses the word "these," as the products have not been referenced earlier in the sentence. This choice is also wordy in its use of "ought to" and "in both the short and long term."