Most of

[morningjava]

Most of Portugal’s 250,000 university students boycotted classes in a one-day strike to protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year.

A. year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year
B. year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per year
C. year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education
D. year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required previously
E. year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education

What do you think is the clues to be logical to approach to the best answer?
Can you describe every factor to think of in terms of grammatical, semantic, and constructive points?

[givemeanid]

Original makes it sound like 'higher education' was paying $7 per year. So (A) is out.
(B) has awkward 'for which was previously paid'
(C) has awkward 'compared to the previously $7 per year'

IMO, (D) ends the sentence dangling although I do not know the exact reason. Ending the sentence with 'required previously' is not sounding right to my ears.

I say its (E).

[sandeepsept5]

I would go for (B).

B -> stands crisp, with the meaning unchanged.

E, I think, changes the meaning of the original sentence, by saying that the fees was required where in, the original statement says that fees was paid.

Please correct me should I be wrong.

[isisalaska]

I believe is D.
E misplaces "the cost of higher education", this shodul not be at in the end. You need "toward the cost of higher education" right next to teh dollar amount..

[jrbrown2]

I'd go with D.

For E: $330 a year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education. Doesn't seem parallel to me.

You're comparing "$330 a year" to "$7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education". It's obvious that the $330/year is for the cost of higher education but this sentence skews the meaning somewhat.

Choice D makes it known that the $330/year goes toward the cost of higher education and compares that rate to $7/year (also for the cost of ed.) required previously

[arunjithp]

Most of Portugal’s 250,000 university students boycotted classes in a one-day strike to protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year.

A. year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year
B. year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per year
C. year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education
D. year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required previously
E. year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education

What do you think is the clues to be logical to approach to the best answer?
Can you describe every factor to think of in terms of grammatical, semantic, and constructive points?

Logical Approach:

There are two questions that needs answer in this sentence:
1. what are they protesting against?
2. Why are they protesting..?

Ans1. to protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education

Ans2. instead of the $7 per year required previously

These two answers are present in D.

[arunjithp]

btw.. what is the OA ?

[drhomler]

A. year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year -A makes it sound like higher education was previously

B. year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per year -for which is awkward construction and unidiomatic

C. year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education -previously is incorrectly modifying $7

D. year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required previously -D is the best choice-required "previously" is fine because it is an adverb that modifies the verb required-the sentence is concise logical and parallel

E. year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education -awkward construction with "as opposed to" and the $7 needs to be closer to higher education

[hopefully]

Should it not be "TOWARDS"...

My logic was toward the cost of education is wrong... so C E remain...
In C Previously $7 is wrong

So (E)

[BTGmoderatorRO]

Option A
'year toward the cost of higher education,previously paying $7 per year'
'previous paying $7 per year' this is incomplete phrase it therefore cannot stand on its own.
This option is incorrect.

Option B.
'year toward the cost of higher education for which was previously paid $7 per year'
This option is incorrect.
'for which was previously paid $7 per year' this is a grammatically wrong sentence.

Option c.
'year,compared to the previously $7 per year,toward the cost of higher education'.
The use of 'compare', in this sentence makes it not suitable for the completion of the sentence.

Option D.
to contribute $330 a 'year toward the cost of higher education,instead of the $7 per year required previously
if we check the two clauses here,they correctly answer why the students are protesting.
question 1; what are they protesting?
answer: to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education,
question 2; what do they want?
instead of the $7 per year required previously

Option E.
'year as oppose to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education'
'as oppose' this makes the sentence grammatically incorrect and it does not follow parallelism.
'cost of higher education' should be at the rear end of the sentence
This option is incorrect.