The computer company reported strong second-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street’s estimates and announced the first in a series of price cuts intended to increase sales further.
(A) The computer company reported strong second-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street’s estimates and announced the first in a series of price cuts intended to increase sales further.
(B) The report of the computer company showed strong second-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, and they announced the first in a series of price cuts that they intend to increase sales further.
(C) Surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, the report of the computer company showed strong second-quarter earnings, and, for the purpose of increasing sales further, they announced the first in a series of price cuts.
(D) The computer company reported strong second-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, and announcing the first in a series of price cuts for the purpose of further increasing sales.
(E) The computer company, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, reported strong second-quarter earnings, while announcing that to increase sales further, there would be the first in a series of price cuts.
This is a fairly easy question that tests you on modifiers and pronouns.
There’s no error in A. Let’s look at other options to see if we have a contender.
B- The report of the computer company showed strong second-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, and they announced the first in a series of price cuts that they intend to increase sales further.
surpassing Wall Street’s estimates,- What is this modifying?
The entire preceding clause. This is incorrect.
What surpassed Wall Street’s estimates? - second-quarter earnings of the company
The pronoun “They” cannot be used to substitute “The computer company”- incorrect. Eliminate B
C- Surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, the report of the computer company showed strong second-quarter earnings, and, for the purpose of increasing sales further, they announced the first in a series of price cuts.
The participial phrase- Surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, ends up modifying report as it placed right after the participial phrase- Eliminate
Incorrect usage of pronoun “they”- same as B
D- The computer company reported strong second-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, and announcing the first in a series of price cuts for the purpose of further increasing sales.
surpassing Wall Street’s estimates,- ends up modifying the entire preceding clause. To modify only earnings, we use the relative pronoun “that” instead.
and announcing- incorrect.
The company reported (V1) and announcing (V2)- Incorrect
The company reported (V1) and announced (V2)- correct
E- The computer company, surpassing Wall Street’s estimates, reported strong second-quarter earnings, while announcing that to increase sales further, there would be the first in a series of price cuts.
surpassing Wall Street’s estimates- incorrectly modifies the company and not earnings.