The recent surge in the number of airplane flights has clogged the nation's air-traffic control system, to lead to 55 percent more delays at airports, and prompts fears among some officials that safety is being compromised.
(A) to lead to 55 percent more delays at airports, and prompts
(B) leading to 55 percent more delay at airports and prompting
(C) to lead to a 55 percent increase in delay at airports and prompt
(D) to lead to an increase of 55 percent in delays at airports, and prompted
(E) leading to a 55-percent increase in delays at airports and prompting

Need explanation please why B is wrong and E is correct. How to decide where to use a percent
B


E IS CORRECT BECAUSE A 55% INCREASE IN DELAY IS CORRECT IDIOM

BUT 55% MORE DELAY AT AIRPORTS IS NOT A CORRECT WAY TO COMPARE INCRESE IN DELAY IN TIME.

the questions meant that the number of delays increased i.e if previously 100 flights are delayed now 155 flights are delayed, and not the delay itself.

What about "C"?

kbharadwaj.1987 wrote:What about "C"?

C changes the meaning ..the recent surge is to lead to increase in delays.... naaah....

Also C is not parallel.

One more reason I think B is incorrect. The subject is The recent Surge, so 55 % more delay is wrong delay should be singular so it should be delays.

Can someone please confirm.

sanjib wrote:The recent surge in the number of airplane flights has clogged the nation's air-traffic control system, to lead to 55 percent more delays at airports, and prompts fears among some officials that safety is being compromised.
(A) to lead to 55 percent more delays at airports, and prompts
(B) leading to 55 percent more delay at airports and prompting
(C) to lead to a 55 percent increase in delay at airports and prompt
(D) to lead to an increase of 55 percent in delays at airports, and prompted
(E) leading to a 55-percent increase in delays at airports and prompting

Need explanation please why B is wrong and E is correct. How to decide where to use a percent

(C) to lead to a 55 percent increase in delay at airports and prompt


"to" is missing in front of "prompt", hence the sentence is not parallel. but as far as i know, there are some constructions, in which "to" can be left out and the sentence still counts as parallel. can somebody give me an example of such a question?

thx a lot

IMO:E