Question

The flood of home foreclosures that followed the large economic recession in 2008 caused housing prices to drop precipitously, which lead to the writing down of mortgage-backed securities, and, to fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral.
a. which lead to the writing down of mortgage-backed securities, and, to fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
b. which led to the write-downs of mortgage-backed securities and fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
c. which lead to the write-down of mortgage-backed securities and the fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
d. leading to write-downs of mortgage-backed securities and fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral
e. leading to write-downs of mortgage-backed securities and, fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The answer is d. leading to write-downs of mortgage-backed securities and fears of a Great Depression-like downward spiral.

The question has to aspects 1) the writing down of mortgage-backed securities and 2) Fears of a great depression-like downward spiral.

The reason for not selecting option a and option b is that both sentences do not have these two aspects in parallel to each other.

Option c has the parallel affect, however, it has the word 'the' twice for the same affect. Idiomatically sounds wrong.

Option e does not have that parallel relationship.

Option d is the right choice since it takes into account the parallel relationship as well as correct idiomatically.