usage which

[amitu]

Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers,
significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
more than $100 billion a year.
128
(A) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business
of
(B) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
(C) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
(D) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
(E) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

in the option a and b which refers to what ? please comment on the usage of which .

[uwhusky]

"which" is referring to the closest noun, and in this case would be "effects" of drug and alcohol abuse.

[albatross86]

I'll quote an expert, Ron, from the MGMAT forums. Option B is the correct answer

You are correct: when you have "X of Y" before a modifier of this type, the modifier could potentially refer either to "Y" by itself or to the whole unit "X of Y". It's up to context to determine which.

So here, which is referring to "effects of drug an alcohol abuse" because of the context of the sentence.

For some helpful pointers on the which / that conundrum, try this website :

https://www.englishforums.com/English/Ab ... b/post.htm

[outreach]

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/exe ... t1651.html

Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers,
significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
more than $100 billion a year.
128
(A) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business
of
(B) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
(C) significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
(D) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
(E) significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

in the option a and b which refers to what ? please comment on the usage of which .