Multiple choice

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

In the textbook publishing business, the second quarter is historically weak, because revenues are low and marketing expenses are high as companies prepare for the coming school year.

  1. low and marketing expenses are high as companies prepare

  2. low and their marketing expenses are high as they prepare

  3. low with higher marketing expenses in preparation

  4. low, while marketing expenses are higher to prepare

  5. low, while their marketing expenses are higher in preparation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The original 'revenues are low and marketing expenses are high as companies prepare' maintains proper parallel structure between the two clauses. The 'as' clause correctly modifies companies preparing for the school year. Other options either introduce unnecessary pronouns ('their') or create wordy, awkward constructions.

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