SC 1000 Number 49

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.

(A) that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain

(B) that, because of double-digit unemployment, could be a severe strain for

(C) with double-digit unemployment, and it could severely strain

(D) with double-digit unemployment and could be a severe strain

(E) with double-digit unemployment and could severely strain

Answer A

I'm not really interested in the answer or why any of the answer choices are wrong. I simply want someone to explain what specifically is the prepositional phrase "with double-digit unemployment" modifying? How would you diagram that?

[viidyasagar]

According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.

(A) that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain

(B) that, because of double-digit unemployment, could be a severe strain for

(C) with double-digit unemployment, and it could severely strain

(D) with double-digit unemployment and could be a severe strain

(E) with double-digit unemployment and could severely strain

Answer A


I'm not really interested in the answer or why any of the answer choices are wrong. I simply want someone to explain what specifically is the prepositional phrase "with double-digit unemployment" modifying? How would you diagram that?

If i am allowed to rephrase ur question.....is the prepositional phrase modifying Japan or depression, right??

Prepositional phrase modifies nouns or pronouns.

This sentence reads "a depression that could severely strain a society blah blah"... - Hence here the subject is "depression" modified by a prepositional phrase cum appositive "with double digit unemployment". This also makes "with double digit unemployment" an adjectival phrase immediately following "depression", the modified noun.

This is my understanding
Tx

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

Thanks for the response. One more question. Does a prepositional phrase not have to obey the touch rule? That is does it not have to touch the noun or pronoun that it modifies?

[A.Kiran]

i think A cant be right.


That ? is not needed here....

[mmslf75]

i think A cant be right.


That ? is not needed here....

kiran

A is indeed the answer here


read on !

According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.
see the way it is to be read "WITH SPOILER INTACT"

In C D E
all versions indicate that Japan......WITH a DOUBLE, as if japan is carrying something

note the equal rank alloted to COULD BE part of the sentence with AND

(C) with double-digit unemployment, and it could severely strain

(D) with double-digit unemployment and could be a severe strain

(E) with double-digit unemployment and could severely strain

In B
Beacuase of is not needed as author is making a statement.
"Because of" would me.. Japan is plunging BECAUSE of double digit figures, however, no where does
author forces us to think this way!l

[DanaJ]

Received a PM.

I will agree that you need to eliminate C, D and E because of the "and". The relationship between the two facts ("depression" and the "severe strain" on the economy) is not that of coordination, it is of cause and effect.

B is also out mainly because it's not the unemployment that causes the severe strain, but the depression with unemployment.

Only A remains: think of that "with" as "coupled with" and it seems to make more sense.