968 of 1000 SCs

[gmat.2008]

Interest rates on mortgages[b] have declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remained unchanged [/b]during the next three months.
(A) have declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remained unchanged
(B) declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remain unchanged
(C) steadily declined during the first six months of this year but remain virtually unchanged
(D) declined steadily during the first six months of this but have remained virtually unchanging’
(E) declined steadily during the first six months of this year but have remained virtually unchanged

ans: E
wats the difference between A & E?
and why A is wrong?

[Mayur Sand]

"have declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remained unchanged " here i think problem is what has remained virtually un changed is not clear . My intial pick was (E). Please correct me

[SanjeevK]

"have declined steadily during the first six months of this year" indicates that the interest rates started declining in the past and are still declining. However the remaining part suggests that the interest rates virtually remained unchanged during the next 3 months. This seems wrong.

E clearly eliminates this ambiguity