Rising interest rates

[beater]

Noting that the Federal Reserve had raised a key short-term interest rate against last month, analysts said that they expected orders for durable goods to decline soon because rising interest rates makes it more expensive to buy them on credit.

A. rising interest rates makes it more expensive to buy them on credit
B. rising interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
C. a rise in interest rates make it more expensive to buy on credit
D. a rise in interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
E. a rise in interest rates makes it more expensive for them to be bought on credit

What do you think are the possible referents for IT? Could someone please explain proper use of BECAUSE. I understand that Because is best used to explain cause/effect relationships but are there any rules with regards to the general usage of Because.

Thanks!

OA - B

[dgr8onerip]

Noting that the Federal Reserve had raised a key short-term interest rate against last month, analysts said that they expected orders for durable goods to decline soon because rising interest rates makes it more expensive to buy them on credit.

A. rising interest rates makes it more expensive to buy them on credit
B. rising interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
C. a rise in interest rates make it more expensive to buy on credit
D. a rise in interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
E. a rise in interest rates makes it more expensive for them to be bought on credit

What do you think are the possible referents for IT? Could someone please explain proper use of BECAUSE. I understand that Because is best used to explain cause/effect relationships but are there any rules with regards to the general usage of Because.

Thanks!

IMO-C
because only in C, the word it is comparatively not ambiguous
it refers to the phrase(buying on credit) that follows in option C

[nervesofsteel]

B for me...

rising interest rates is plural.. thus make..

it should not be used...as it has not referent ...

[shilpi84]

Seems to be B.

A->
Them is ambiguous.
C->
A rise is singular so the verb should be makes.Same applies to D.
E->
Wordy

[pakaskwa]

IMO B.

A. rising interest rates makes it more expensive to buy them on credit
them is ambiguous.

B. rising interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
Correct

C. a rise in interest rates make it more expensive to buy on credit
a rise ... makes it more expensive, NOT make it

D. a rise in interest rates make buying on credit more expensive
a rise ... makes it more expensive, NOT make it

E. a rise in interest rates makes it more expensive for them to be bought on credit
them is ambiguous

I don't see any problem using "because" in the sentence. It's clearly causal relationship. The reason that analysts said so is that they think rising interest rates will make things more expensive.