stock market blues

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stock market blues

by blackarrow » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:11 pm
While the stock market was bouncing back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between 2001 to 2004, typical household savings plummeted nearly 25% and the median household debt rose by a third.

a)was bouncing back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between
b)bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession, from
c)has bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between
d)has bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; from
e)bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; from

Source: MGMAT SC Questions. Diffculty level 700-800
Its better to burn out than to fade away
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by Jatinder » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:56 pm
is it E?
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Re: stock market blues

by ken3233 » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:44 pm
blackarrow wrote:While the stock market was bouncing back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between 2001 to 2004, typical household savings plummeted nearly 25% and the median household debt rose by a third.

a)was bouncing back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between
b)bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession, from
c)has bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; between
d)has bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; from
e)bounced back from its 2002 low, U.S. families are still reeling from the recent recession; from

Source: MGMAT SC Questions. Diffculty level 700-800
I'm guessing "D" is the answer.

The context of the sentence is that it is reporting the current effects of something that started in the past. Thus, the present perfect should be used to report the stock market's recovery. The current status of the U.S. families requires the present progressive. Only "C" and "D" meet this criteria, so the other answers can ruled out (see MGMAT SC, pages 127 - 129).

I'm guessing also that "C" can be ruled out because it incorrectly uses the idiom "between", when "from...to" should be used. (see MGMAT SC, Chapter 9).

I may be wrong. What is the correct answer?
Last edited by ken3233 on Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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by TedCornell » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:47 pm
I would pick D.

1st split: "stock was bouncing/bounced" vs "stock has bounced"

The action that immediately follows the bounce is "families are still reeling", in the present tense. The intent of the sentence is to show that Even though the stock is not down anymore, families are still reeling. We need a tense that indicates that the bounce happened in the past but is still true or relevant to the present. This is precisely the purpose of the present perfect.

Keep only those sentences that use the present perfect "stock has bounced". Eliminate A, B and E

2nd split: "between 2001 to 2004" vs "from 2001 to 2004"

Idiomatically, "between X to Y" is incorrect. The right sentence must have either "between X and Y" or "from X to Y". Get rid of any answer that doesn't use one of these two correct idioms. Eliminate A and C

The only remaining answer is D. I believe D is the correct answer.

(I study with OG and GMATFix Verbal Flaschards)

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by mikeCoolBoy » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:48 pm
IMO D
for the same reasons that TedCornell mentioned

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by blackarrow » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:40 am
OA Is D

two errors - tense. idiom... both resolved by option D
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by Jatinder » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:52 am
TedCornell wrote:I would pick D.

1st split: "stock was bouncing/bounced" vs "stock has bounced"

The action that immediately follows the bounce is "families are still reeling", in the present tense. The intent of the sentence is to show that Even though the stock is not down anymore, families are still reeling. We need a tense that indicates that the bounce happened in the past but is still true or relevant to the present. This is precisely the purpose of the present perfect.

Keep only those sentences that use the present perfect "stock has bounced". Eliminate A, B and E

2nd split: "between 2001 to 2004" vs "from 2001 to 2004"

Idiomatically, "between X to Y" is incorrect. The right sentence must have either "between X and Y" or "from X to Y". Get rid of any answer that doesn't use one of these two correct idioms. Eliminate A and C

The only remaining answer is D. I believe D is the correct answer.

(I study with OG and GMATFix Verbal Flaschards)
great explanation TedCornell!!
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by antest07 » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:17 am
To be honest, I pick D instantly without looking other's answer.
between x AND y. Throw A and C to trash bin gives you b and d.
While should be follow by present perfect, now I am a little bit not sure...BUT!!! LOOK!!! D gives you a present continuous tense!!! "are still reeling" NOW shoot the silver bullet and got D! :D

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