Sales of wines declined in the 1980s

[RonPurewal]

also, more importantly, is this problem actually in the free GMAT PREP software? if it isn't, we're going to have to freeze or delete this thread.

if anyone has seen this problem in GMAT PREP, please provide a screen shot. thank you.

[BrandenF768]

My issue with correct answer A) is that "the 1991 report" does not have a complete independent clause (?). Specifically, I was looking for the correct answer to read something like: "they began to grow again after the 1991 report [that...] was released". There is no "was released"--it just has a "that" modifier with no completion. How is that correct?

[RonPurewal]

we can't discuss the problem any further without a screen shot, as per my previous post. thanks.

[aflaamM589]

Hello Ron,
Is there any difference between began growing and began to grow?
Thanks

[RonPurewal]

not really, no.

[aflaamM589]

Thanks
God bless you

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.

[aflaamM589]

Hello Ron,
Allow me to ask another question:
Is B also incorrect because particularly is adverb and it tries to modify noun red wine?

B) after the 1991 report that linked a reduced risk of heart disease with a moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, they began growing again

Thank you very much
Have a cheerful day

[RonPurewal]

that isn't a problem.
for instance, this sentence is correct:
Italians commonly drink alcohol, particularly red wine, with dinner every day.

the problem is that "particularly red wine" is being used to modify "alcohol CONSUMPTION", instead of just "alcohol".
this is factually incorrect: red wine is a kind of alcohol, not a kind of alcohol CONSUMPTION.

[aflaamM589]

Thank you very much.
God bless you

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.

[aflaamM589]

Can CDE also be crossed out because these choices change the meaning?

Sales of wines declined in the late 1980s, but they began to grow again after the 1991 report that linked moderate consumption of alcohol, and particularly of red wine, with a reduced risk of heart disease.

A)...
B) after the 1991 report that linked a reduced risk of heart disease with a moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, they began growing again
C) in a 1991 report, moderate alcohol consumption, and particularly of red wine, which was linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, caused them to begin to grow again
D) with a reduced risk of heart disease linked in a 1991 report with moderate alcohol consumption, in particular red wine, they began growing again
E) a reduced risk of heart disease linked to moderate alcohol consumption in a 1991 report, and in particular red wine, started them growing again

Is this kind of a meaning change acceptable or too subtle to be tested?
Thank you

[RonPurewal]

if you can't tell, i guess it's too subtle to be tested. (:

__

remember—the use of "a"/"an"/"the" is NEVER tested on this exam.

[aflaamM589]

I think i couldn't communicate properly,
i was pointing towards in vs after split, not a vs the.
Is the difference between in vs after too subtle?

[RonPurewal]

ah, ok.

well, either of those could potentially make sense here -- just think about the context, and think about how each of those constructions SHOULD be used.

• "AFTER the report..."
...what happened after the report?
—> sales started growing again.
so, if the sentence says "sales started growing again after the report", or "after the report, sales started growing again"... that makes sense.

• "IN the report..."
...what was in the report?
—> moderate alcohol consumption was linked to reduced mortality.
so, if the sentence says "xxxx was linked to yyyy in the report", or "in the report, xxxx was linked to yyyy"... that also makes sense.

__

you can eliminate choice C by thinking about this.

choice C says:
"in a 1991 report, moderate alcohol consumption ... caused [sales] to start growing again"

... that's not what happened in the report, so, that's nonsense.