Sentence Correction

State legislators fear that traffic accidents would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased to 75 mph on rural highways.
(A) would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased
(B) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit to be increased up
(C) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit increased
(D) would become more frequent and severe with the speed limit increased
(E) would become more frequent and severe after the speed limit has increased


Please explain each of the choice. OA is C.

SmarpanGamt wrote:State legislators fear that traffic accidents would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased to 75 mph on rural highways.
(A) would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased
(B) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit to be increased up
(C) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit increased
(D) would become more frequent and severe with the speed limit increased
(E) would become more frequent and severe after the speed limit has increased

Please explain each of the choice. OA is C.

See the following sentences:

If I were rich, i would help the poor.

--> I would help the poor if I were rich.
--> I would help the poor were I rich.

Were it X == If it were X

Since "would become" signals subjunctive, we should think about the option which uses "sub + were".

There are two ways to write the "subject + Were":

1. If it were X.
2. Were it X..

We will prefer if it were.

See the options.

A. It uses "if X was". No, it should be if it were.
B. Uses the correct version "were it x", but "were it to be" is not correct.
C. Correct.
D and E: the second portion does not have "if clause/were it". so, none of the options is compatible with the sentence.

Answer is C.

I understand B is correct. But why is D wrong? I mean, "with the speed limit increaded accidents would be more frequent". I cannot see any problem even if were is not used.

Its "if, then" construction.."If"hypothetical Subjunctive and "then" conditional"
the right consturction is "would be more freuqent...If speed limit were increased to"
A is worng because it uses WAS
B is wrong because "speed limit TO BE increased UP" is wrong increase up is totally wrong
D is out because Would become more frequent WITH the speed limit increased" is again wrong construction
E is out because it uses wrong construction "has increased"

C is the right option.

SmarpanGamt wrote:State legislators fear that traffic accidents would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased to 75 mph on rural highways.
(A) would be more frequent and severe if the speed limit was increased
(B) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit to be increased up
(C) would be more frequent and severe were the speed limit increased
(D) would become more frequent and severe with the speed limit increased
(E) would become more frequent and severe after the speed limit has increased


Please explain each of the choice. OA is C.

There are 2 events in action here in the following order:
1. The speed limit is increased
2. Traffic accidents increase in frequency and severity
The use of 'would' indicates that this situation is hypothetical: if the speed limit were to be increased, the frequency/severity of traffic accidents would increase.

we use 'with' to describe 2 simultaneous actions. For e.g.
She walked out of the room with her head held high.
D is incorrect because it uses 'with' to describe two non-simultaneous actions.

There is a tense mismatch in E: 'would increase' and 'has increased'. Secondly, 'has increased' seems to imply that the speed limit has somehow increased on its own. For e.g.
Summer temperatures in Bali have increased.

In the right answer choice C, 'were the speed limit increased to X..." indicates that there is an element of intent and action here. i.e. the state legislators are the ones who increase the speed limit.