I could easily narrowed down by choices to A & E and finally picked up E.

more people actually used the drop boxes for their mail, they would >> perfect modifier usage here. They is perfectly modifying people not the Boxes..

Also In option E the subject verb agreement is proper responded Vs used.

So the correct choice is E

if more people is better in my view than if the more people, also in B,C,D they-them are confusing because antecedent can be people or boxes both being plural

so I focused on A and E, now in the actual statment if you see the underlined part boxes must have been already removed whereas A indicates [people are actually using the drop boxes] so simple past must be used i.e. (E)

n a press release, a local representative of the US Postal Service responded to criticism over the removal of street corner postal drop boxes, claiming that if more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will be better able to 'pay their keep.'

A) more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will
B) the drop boxes were actually used by any more people for their mail, they will
C) the more people who are actually using the drop boxes for their mail will make them
D) the drop boxes are put to better use when more people actually use them for their mail, they will
E) more people actually used the drop boxes for their mail, they would

May we have the source please!!!

well...Let me try to clarify that how I picked up E


In a press release, a local representative of the US Postal Service responded to criticism over the removal of street corner postal drop boxes, claiming that if more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will be better able to 'pay their keep.'

A) more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will
B) the drop boxes were actually used by any more people for their mail, they will
C) the more people who are actually using the drop boxes for their mail will make them
D) the drop boxes are put to better use when more people actually use them for their mail, they will
E) more people actually used the drop boxes for their mail, they would

B and D are out of scope because They is wrongly modifying the drop boxes , Now in they will be better able to 'pay their keep.'... they must point to people and not the the drop boxes..coz it's people 'pay their keep'

C is passive & does not fit the bill..

Now we are left with A and E . If you look at the sentence then a local representative >>> responded
In people actually used , this is something happened in the past and then only somebody can claim on that.

Again these two options are very close..Rahul can we have OA pls..

rahul.s wrote:In a press release, a local representative of the US Postal Service responded to criticism over the removal of street corner postal drop boxes, claiming that if more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will be better able to 'pay their keep.'

A) more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will
B) the drop boxes were actually used by any more people for their mail, they will
C) the more people who are actually using the drop boxes for their mail will make them
D) the drop boxes are put to better use when more people actually use them for their mail, they will
E) more people actually used the drop boxes for their mail, they would

OA: E

Please provide your reasoning

Firstly, representative [bold]responded[/bold] and made some hypothetical prediction - idea which "would" can only deliver.
he was saying somethign contrary to relaity or won't/din't happen. But if we say something that we think will happen or believe that to happen we use future tense.

e.g. "If I had won the lottery yesterday, I would have quit my job". -- Something did not happen in reality.
e.g. "If I win the lottery tomorrow, I will quit my job". -- Believe it to happen or plan so.

simply, when past tense is there on the "if" condition ( subjunctive mood ) , only "would" is appropriate.

viidyasagar wrote:

n a press release, a local representative of the US Postal Service responded to criticism over the removal of street corner postal drop boxes, claiming that if more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will be better able to 'pay their keep.'

A) more people are actually using the drop boxes for their mail, they will
B) the drop boxes were actually used by any more people for their mail, they will
C) the more people who are actually using the drop boxes for their mail will make them
D) the drop boxes are put to better use when more people actually use them for their mail, they will
E) more people actually used the drop boxes for their mail, they would

May we have the source please!!!

Gmatclub free test

takeaway
IF ( simple Past )... then (WOULD + base verb )

If the patient "rang" the bell, the nurse "would" enter the room


Apply this logic here

It's about talking something about the future, while in past

mmslf75 wrote:
takeaway
IF ( simple Past )... then (WOULD + base verb )

If the patient "rang" the bell, the nurse "would" enter the room


Apply this logic here

It's about talking something about the future, while in past

yeah, i need to revisit the good old manhattan sc book