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OA is B!
Doubt 1: "which" is referring to only alcohol abuse. AND not drug abuse!!! right?
DOUBT 2: option D is parallel and better than option "B", right?
Please explain be the OA?

[Bill@VeritasPrep]

OA is B!
Doubt 1: "which" is referring to only alcohol abuse. AND not drug abuse!!! right?

"Cost" is a plural verb, so the relative clause starting with which is referring to drug AND alcohol abuse.

DOUBT 2: option D is parallel and better than option "B", right?
Please explain be the OA?

I guess D is parallel in the sense that both phrases are now participial ("compounding" and "costing"), but there are a few problems. First, "significant in compounding" is awkward and wordy. Secondly, the phrases don't need to be parallel because they are describing different things. It's the use of crack that is compounding the effects, but it is the already-occurring drug and alcohol abuse that cost businesses $100 billion a year.

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Hey!
Q1I guess "compounding" and "costing" are used as verb not as participles.

Q2 I read in a book that ",which" refers to the object placed JUST BEFORE the comma. Is the rule ,stated about ",which", wrong?

[Bill@VeritasPrep]

No, that rule for "which" is fine, but in this case, drug AND alcohol abuse are presented as the term being modified by the relative clause.

[sundeepahuja27]

Hey! I have a doubt here. I think the relative clause modifies "effects of drug and alcohol abuse" here as the construction is following the form X of Y.

So, if the construction had been - "the effect of drug and alcohol abuse," which one of these was correct-

"the effect of drug and alcohol abuse, which already costs......."

or

"the effect of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost......."

or any other clause please advise!

Thanks

[iongmat]

"Cost" is a plural verb, so the relative clause starting with which is referring to drug AND alcohol abuse.

Hello Bill, really confused here. Isn't "drug and alcohol abuse" also "singular". So, how can we use "cost" with it? Isn't "which" in B referring to "effects" and not to ""drug and alcohol abuse".

[iongmat]

So, if the construction had been - "the effect of drug and alcohol abuse," which one of these was correct-

"the effect of drug and alcohol abuse, which already costs......."

or

"the effect of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost......."

or any other clause please advise!

Thanks

I don't think we could have used "cost" in that case, because there is no plural noun that could have served as an antecedent of "which".

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[sahuja2704]

Hi iongmat,
I think you are right in saying that there is no plural noun qualifying "which". This is the reason that "costs" will be correct, not "cost".

I will appreciate an Expert advice on this one. I have encountered cases like these and i always get confused.

[theCodeToGMAT]

Hi iongmat,
I think you are right in saying that there is no plural noun qualifying "which". This is the reason that "costs" will be correct, not "cost".

I will appreciate an Expert advice on this one. I have encountered cases like these and i always get confused.

"the effect of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost......."

here, "which" is describing "drug & alcohol abuse" ..

This is similar to X & Y and is plural.. Hence, "cost"

For example:

Brain and Steve are playing football. --> here we are using "plural" ..

[theCodeToGMAT]

"Cost" is a plural verb, so the relative clause starting with which is referring to drug AND alcohol abuse.

Hello Bill, really confused here. Isn't "drug and alcohol abuse" also "singular". So, how can we use "cost" with it? Isn't "which" in B referring to "effects" and not to ""drug and alcohol abuse".

No, "drug and alcohol abuse" is not singular...

For example: White and Red cars are parked outside our colony.

[iongmat]

No, "drug and alcohol abuse" is not singular...

For example: White and Red cars are parked outside our colony.

In the example you have stated, "cars" is plural and hence is plural.

But here, "abuse" is singular.

What do you think?

[Bill@VeritasPrep]

Drug abuse and alcohol abuse are singular when used individually, but when linked with "and" they are plural. As another example:

Hydroelectric and solar power are becoming more cost-effective.

[iongmat]

Drug abuse and alcohol abuse are singular when used individually, but when linked with "and" they are plural. As another example:

Hydroelectric and solar power are becoming more cost-effective.

Hello Bill, to me "Hydroelectric and solar power" seems to be slightly different from "Drug and alcohol abuse", primarily because "powers" would totally change the meaning, while in the latter case, the sentence would have used "abuses" if the intent was to depict a "plural subject".

It's like this:

Physical and emotional abuse is especially prevalent among children.

Are you suggesting we should be using: Physical and emotional abuse are especially prevalent among children.

[theCodeToGMAT]

No, "drug and alcohol abuse" is not singular...

For example: White and Red cars are parked outside our colony.

In the example you have stated, "cars" is plural and hence is plural.

But here, "abuse" is singular.

What do you think?

No.. here, we are talking about two different things..

For example: Red car and blue car are parked outside our colony. --> Here, we are referring two different identities..

Now, if we say
"Red & blue car is parked outside our colony" --> Here, we could mean that a single car is painted in mixed shade.. So, this would create confusion..