Style or Tense?

[bmanoj99]

Retail stores of the same type often succeed despite the fact that they are clustered next to each other; one reason is suggested by the behavior of consumers, who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores.


a) Retail stores of the same type often succeed despite the fact that they are clustered next to each other; one reason is suggested by the behavior of consumers, who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores.

b) If clustered next to each other, one reason that retail stores of the same type succeed is suggested by the behavior of consumers, who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores.

c) If clustered next to each other, one reason that retail stores of the same type succeed is suggested by consumers who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than those who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores.

d) The fact that there are consumers who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores is suggestive of one reason, if clustered next to each other, retail stores can succeed.

e) The fact that there are consumers who would rather shop in an area in which comparisons between products can be made at several stores than in an area in which comparisons can be made at only one or two stores suggests one reason retail stores can succeed despite being clustered next to each other.

SPOILER: A

Why is E not correct?

[greycellz]

Three main reasons why E is wrong:
1. Emphasis - The original sentence places emphasis on the Retail stores and suggests the reason why these stores do well ; E on the other hand, places emphasis on "the fact"/reason and not really much on the retail stores. A change of emphasis is an expression error in gmat
2. There should be a 'why' after 'one reason' in E
3. Needless introduction of 'can' - The original sentence presents the success of the retail stores as a fact, the 'can' changes the meaning to more of a prediction rather than a fact.

HTH

[800Bob]

2. There should be a 'why' after 'one reason' in E

No way. "Reason why" is redundant and should be avoided in carefully edited prose. You will never see "reason why" in a correct answer in Sentence Correction. "Reason that" is better.

[greycellz]

No way. "Reason why" is redundant and should be avoided in carefully edited prose. You will never see "reason why" in a correct answer in Sentence Correction. "Reason that" is better.

Don't agree with you. It's perfectly grammatical to use "reason why" - specially when introducing a doubtful scenario/question.
Do you mean to say that "suggests one reason that retail stores can succeed despite being clustered next to each other" is grammatically correct ?
IMO, it's absolutely wrong.
reason that should be used when the sentence/phrase following it is in reported form. It will be correct to use reason that here:
"suggests one of the reasons that help retail stores succeed is.."

Don't confuse 'reason why' with 'reason because', which of course is redundant

[greycellz]

Ok, here's what I found in google : Omit "why" from reason why, if reason is used as a noun!

[800Bob]

Do you mean to say that "suggests one reason that retail stores can succeed despite being clustered next to each other" is grammatically correct ?

Yes. "Reason why" can almost always be replaced with the less redundant "reason that" or sometimes just "reason."

Here are a couple of links to discussions of "reason why":

www.quilldriverbooks.com/reports/reason_why.htm

www.bartleby.com/64/C002/025.html

In reality, so many people say "reason why" that it has become as acceptable as "tuna fish," which is also redundant. But because old-school grammarians still teach that "reason why" is wrong, GMAT will avoid putting it in a correct answer.

Here are two SC examples in which "reason why" appears in a wrong answer:

According to Henry David Thoreau, the reason a majority is allowed to rule is not that it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger.
(A) the reason a majority is allowed to rule is not that it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger
(B) a majority is allowed to rule not because it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger
(C) the reason for majority rule is not because they are more likely to be right, they are stronger
(D) the majority is allowed to rule because of its strength, not because it is more likely to be right
(E) the reason why the majority rules is that it is strong, not because it is likely to be right

One reason why more young people lose their virginity during the summer than at other times of the year undoubtedly is because school vacations give adolescents more free time.
(A) One reason why more young people lose their virginity during the summer than at other times of the year undoubtedly is because
(B) If young people lose their virginity more during the summer than other seasons, it is undoubtedly because
(C) One undoubtable reason that young people lose their virginity more during the summer than other times is
(D) One reason more young people lose their virginity during the summer than at other times of the year is undoubtedly that
(E) Young people lose their virginity more often during the summer undoubtedly because, for one reason,

[greycellz]

Got it, Thanks !!