Multiple choice

As measured by the Commerce Ministry, export margins peaked in the fourth quarter of 1998 and have slipped since then, as many exporters have been unable to pass on higher costs.

  1. and have slipped since then, as many exporters have been unable to pass on higher costs

  2. and have slipped since then, the reason being because many exporters have been unable to pass on higher costs

  3. and slipped since then, many exporters being unable to pass on higher costs

  4. but, many exporters unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then

  5. yet are slipping since then, because many exporters were unable to pass on higher costs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence talks about an action that started in the past and its effects are continuing to the present, so present perfect tense should be used.  This makes options (3), (4) and (5) incorrect. Option (2) is excessively wordy – ‘the reason being because’. Hence (1).

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