SC 1000 # 165

[GK]

Because of the business community’s uncertainty about the President’s position in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has occurred.

(A) in regard to the issue of the budget deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(B) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates has
(C) regarding the budgetary deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(D) on the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rates have
(E) regarding the deficit, an unanticipated rise in interest rats have

Can you please explain why B is a better choice over A? Though B is less wordy, I think it changes the meaning of the original sentence slightly. In B, by not mentioning 'budget deficit' the question is left open regarding what type of deficit (fiscal deficit, etc.) we are talking about; the original sentence clearly specifies that it's a budget deficit that we are talking about.

Also is 'in regard to' correct? I believe that 'regarding' is better usage but does that mean the former is incorrect? Thanks.

[GK]

Believed to originate from a small area on their foreheads, elephants emit low-frequency sounds that may be used as a secret language to communicate with other members of the herd.
(A) Believed to originate from a small area on their foreheads, elephants emit low-frequency sounds that may be used
(B) Elephants emit low-frequency sounds that are believed to originate from a small area on their foreheads, and they may use this
(C) Elephants emit low-frequency sounds, believed to originate from a small area on their foreheads, that they may use
(D) Originating, it is believed, from a small area on their foreheads; elephants emit low-frequency sounds they may use
(E) Originating, it is believed, from a small area on their foreheads, low-frequency sounds are emitted by elephants that may be used

Can you please explain why C is correct? Doesn't 'that' modify 'foreheads' in C making it sounds like the foreheads are used by the elephants to communicate instead of the sound emitted by the foreheads? Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

::Sigh:: Yeah, all those choices should say budget deficit. Remember that the 1000sc questions are not official.

'Position on' is better idiomatic usage than 'position regarding', which I don't think is ever truly correct usage (it sounds like the type of language you'd use if you wanted to be too polite to ask someone directly about their position ON an issue - in the same way that you'd say "Could I ask you to open the door?" instead of "Open the door.")

Choice A also contains 'the issue of', which is completely worthless, and should definitely be jettisoned.

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As for the second problem, please post it in its own thread - not as a second post in a thread dedicated to the other question (as you've done here, most likely inadvertently), and then we'll answer it. :)