Question

Simplify the underlined part of the given sentence (if necessary):
Retail sales rose 0.8 of 1 percent in August, intensifying expectations that personal spending in the July-September quarter more than doubled that of the 1.4 percent growth rate in personal spending for the previous quarter.

• A. that personal spending in the July-September quarter more than doubled that of
• B. that personal spending in the July-September quarter would more than double
• C. of personal spending in the July-September quarter, that it morethan doubled
• D. of personal spending in the July-September quarter more than doubling that of
• E. of personal spending in the July-September quarter, that it would more than double that of

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

that personal spending in the July-September quarter would more than double

Focusing on 'expectations' two things must be kept in mind 'expectations of' is used in respect with a person or a thing whereas 'expectations that' is used in case of a future event. By this rule, 'expectations that' is the correct form and not 'expectations of'. Next, since we are talking about something in the future that is not exactly certain, we need to use the subjunctive (is a mood of a verb that is used when talking about something hypothetical or uncertain like something happening in the future). Option A uses a simple past tense whereas B uses the subjunctive 'would'. Also, we need to focus on what is doubling - the 1.4 percent growth. However, the 'that of' used in A, D and E doesn't seem to refer to this 1.4 percent growth or referring to anything at all. After taking all this into consideration, option B emerges as the correct answer.