kvcpk wrote:While larger banks can afford to maintain their own data-processing operations, many smaller regional and community banks are finding that the cost associated with upgrading data-processing equipment and with the development and maintenance of new products and technical staff are prohibitive.

A. cost associated with

B. costs associated with

C. costs arising from

D. cost of

E. costs of

Please explain the way to choose between cost/costs.

kvcpk wrote:OA is B.

I see "are prohibitve" now. missed that in my first read.

My qn now is if it was"is prohibitive", then would "cost" be right?

in other words,

does cost/costs has anything to do with:
"with upgrading data-processing equipment and with the development and maintenance of new products "

paes wrote: ideally yes.

But see the meaning

cost associated with X and with Y : same cost for both X and Y
costs associated with X and with Y : cost can be different for X and Y -> makes more sense

paes wrote:kvcp@

I am not an expert but what I believe :

Cost associated with a pencil and with a pen : correct.
Costs associated with a pencil and with a pen : also correct.

There can be multiple costs associated with a pencil/pen.