Expert way to eliminate the wrong choices.

There is no consensus on what role, if any, is played by acid rain in slowing the growth or damaging forests in the eastern United States. (A) slowing the growth or damaging (B) the damage or the slowing of the growth of (C) the damage to or the slowness of the growth of (D) damaged or slowed growth...

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I have learned the following from a grammar book.

The reading of history is interesting.
The walking in the beach was an enjoyment for us.

In the above examples, the + VERB-ING has been used. Are those sentences incorrect?

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Why is A wrong?

The rising of costs of data-processing operations at many financial institutions has created a growing opportunity for independent companies to provide these services more efficiently and at lower cost. (A) The rising of costs (B) Rising costs (C) The rising cost (D) Because the rising cost (E) Bec...