During the Great Depression, industrial output fell by nearly fifty percent from its peak in 1929 down to its nadir in 1933.
(A) During the Great Depression, industrial output fell by nearly fifty percent from its peak in 1929 down to its nadir in 1933.
(B) During the Great Depression, industrial output fell by nearly fifty percent from its peak in 1929 to its nadir in 1933.
(C) At the time of the Great Depression, industrial output fell by almost fifty percent from its 1929 peak down to its 1933 nadir.
(D) At the time of the Great Depression, industrial output fell from its peak in 1929, by nearly fifty percent, to it nadir in 1933.
(E) During the Great Depression, industrial output fell from its peak in 1929 to its nadir in 1933 by nearly fifty percent.
This question is based on Modifiers and Structure.
A vertical scan of the options gives us a choice between the preposition ‘during’ and the prepositional phrase ‘at the time of’. Since the latter is wordy, the options containing the phrase can be eliminated. Furthermore, in Option C, the adverb ‘down’ is also redundant. So, Options C and D can be eliminated.
Option A also contains the redundant adverb ‘down’. Since the sentence already has the verb ‘fell’, the adverb is unnecessary. So, Option A can be eliminated.
In Option E, the phrase “by nearly fifty percent” is misplaced. The phrase modifies the verb ‘fell’ and so it must be placed next to it. So, Option E can be eliminated.
Option B contains the preposition ‘during’. The modifier is also placed next to its subject. Therefore, B is the most appropriate option.