Sentence Correction

158. With only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens consume 28 percent of its
nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per
capita than Europeans do.

(A) With
(B) As
(C) Being
(D) Despite having
(E) Although accounting for


OA=E. I did get the answer right, but what is the logical explanation for the answer not being C.

The OE for the answer not being C is

Choices B and C lose the contrast between the opening phrase and the main clause, and As is unidiomatic in B.

what i understand is that in order to create contrast between the population of people and the activities of the people we want that kind of word.

so we have D and E so E is better.

thats why being doest not give the feeling of contrast. thats why not choosen

time:1:07
i would say D as it seems better than E as contradictary information is being presented....

oh,i didnt realize the answer was already published

any way seems like it is using accounting as it deals with the number

i feel and felt despite is right word as contradiction is being presented.....

they say english is funny language,may be now i am knowing "why is it called so" lol

thanks for explanation
Seems like the word "having" laid me down...lol...
(as it is not that people of united states have 5% population ....rather they are 5% population....)

but i wonder what would have been the case, if it was
...... only 5 percent of the world's population, United States consume
instead of
...... only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens consume

arpita@gurome wrote: The contrast here is between the size of the population in the United States and what the consumption of natural resources, water, etc. by the population. Only (D) and (E) establish the contrast. (D) is incorrect because "despite having 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens..." suggests that the citizens of United States have 5 percent of the world's population. (E) fixes the confusion.
Hope this helps.

I am confused over D and E.

Although you explanation is correct, I still have doubt.

Is "according for" is correct?

What is difference in meaning between D and E? D: shows possession.

eaakbari wrote:158. With only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens consume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per
capita than Europeans do.

(A) With
(B) As
(C) Being
(D) Despite having
(E) Although accounting for


OA=E. I did get the answer right, but what is the logical explanation for the answer not being C.

The OE for the answer not being C is

Choices B and C lose the contrast between the opening phrase and the main clause, and As is unidiomatic in B.

Theory:

1. With X and Y, they have done this.

=> Means that they have X and Y and have done this with that.

"with X and Y, NOUN"--> With X and Y" modifies the NOUN.

Application:

=> Option A means that USA citizens have 5 percent of world population. Does it make sense? NO.

Theory#02:

AS + Clause --is the accepted form in GMAT. After AS we should not use NOUN or NOUN phrase.

[There may have some exceptions]

Application:

In the option B, AS + NOUN phrase has been used. OUT.

Theory#03:

(Being + NOUN) + COMMA + NOUN=> "Being + NOUN/NOUN phrase" modifies the NOUN after comma.

Example:
Being the president of the organization, he announced the budget.

Application:

Being 5% of the world population, USA citizens====> USA citizens are only 5% of world population. DOES it make sense? NO.

Theory#04:

Despite having XX, they are doing this.

=> Despite having XX modifies the noun immediately after comma.

Example:

Despite having pain in leg, he was working hard.

=> he has pain in his leg.

Application:

The option D means USA citizens have 5% of world population. => It means that USA citizens possess the 5% of world population. Actually the intended meaning is "USA citizens" comprise 5% of world population. D changes the meaning of the sentence. D is out.

Answer is E.

I have one doubt. "Although" introduces a dependent clause with a SV pair (Syntax: Although + Subject + Verb). I may be missing something very silly, but could someone please let me know the S-V pair in the dependent clause in option E in this question?

I was confused on this ques because of the same reason, as none of the answer choices seemed right to me, and was inclined towards E, but the aforementioned issue confused me.

autmnleaf wrote:I have one doubt. "Although" introduces a dependent clause with a SV pair (Syntax: Although + Subject + Verb). I may be missing something very silly, but could someone please let me know the S-V pair in the dependent clause in option E in this question?

I was confused on this ques because of the same reason, as none of the answer choices seemed right to me, and was inclined towards E, but the aforementioned issue confused me.

In some cases, a subordinate clause will omit a subject and verb when their presence is clearly understood.
Such a clause is called a VERBLESS clause.
Typically, the omitted verb is a form of TO BE.

SC12 in the OG12:
Rising inventories, if [they are] not accompanied by corresponding increases in sales, can lead to production cutbacks that would hamper economic growth.
In the OA here, the bracketed subject and verb are omitted, but their presence is clearly understood.

In the OA to the SC above, although accounting for only 5 percent of the world's population is an example of a verbless subordinate clause.