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.

One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.

  1. lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation

  2. a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,

  3. a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,

  4. interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,

  5. interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation' maintains proper parallel structure with the subsequent items 'a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.' All three elements use noun phrases that create a coherent list. Option A incorrectly uses 'lowering' (gerund) instead of 'a lowering' (noun phrase), breaking the parallel structure.

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