Although the coordination of monetary policy...

[vale383]

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant
(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant
(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant
(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely
(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant

(E) is the credited response. Accordingly, I conclude that "not likely" is superior to "unlikely" for some reason. I have checked the usage notes of several dictionaries on the entry for likely as well as checking the Chicago Manual of Style without finding out why this is so.

[RonPurewal]

We can't answer this query without knowing the original source of the problem.

Welcome to the forum (I noticed this is your first post)"”but please read the forum rules before posting. Thanks.

("Credited response""”seems like you've been studying for the LSAT.)

[RonPurewal]

Also"”

(E) is the credited response. Accordingly, I conclude that "not likely" is superior to "unlikely" for some reason.

You can only reach this conclusion if you assume that every single word that's different in an incorrect choice is, in some way, inferior to its counterpart in the correct answer.

That's a very bad assumption.
In an incorrect answer choice, most things are fine. Although multiple errors are often present, all that's needed to make a choice incorrect is one. It's quite possible that everything else is fine.

"Unlikely" vs. "not likely" is just in here as a distraction. They got you.

(Can't have any further discussion without a citation of the original source, thanks.)

[vale383]

I'm sorry for the delay in responding. I didn't realize that you worked for the institute until I saw the ad for the Thursdays with Ron on the right-hand side of my screen.

You said, "They got you." I'm confused. Who are "they"? Did you mean to say "The person who wrote this question got you" or were you referring to GMAC/ETS? Assuming you meant the latter, is it customary to use they to refer to organizations such as GMAC or ETS? I had thought that "it" would be the pronoun used in that case. I guess I need to re-read the pronouns section.

I also noticed you said "[It] seems like you've been studying for the LSAT", but I have a flashcard that says "seems as if" is the correct idiom. Don't worry, Ron "” I just threw it away.

Thanks for keeping me on the strait and narrow. I appreciate it.

[RonPurewal]

You are right that "they" (= gmac) and "seems like" are incorrect"”in formal written English.

If you're expecting every single forum post to be written with impeccable formal English grammar, though, then ... well, you should probably revise those expectations.

First, if we were to do that, we couldn't have a forum in the first place. If every sentence had to be meticulously edited, we just wouldn't have the time.

Second, it's a forum. It's not a place for formal articles. It's a place for conversations, which, by their very nature, are less formal than full-length articles.