MGMAT Q BANK :

An economic recession can result from a lowering of employment rates triggered by a drop in investment, which causes people to cut consumer spending and starts a cycle of layoffs leading back to even lower employment rates.


A) a lowering of employment rates triggered by a drop in investment, which causes people to cut consumer spending and start a cycle of layoffs leading back to even lower employment rates.
B) a lowering of employment rates triggered by dropping investment, which cause people to cut consumer spending and starts a cycle of layoffs leading back to even lower employment rates.
C) falling employment rates triggered by a drop in investment, causing cutbacks in consumer spending and starting a cycle of layoffs that lead to even lower employment rates.
D) falling employment rates that are triggered by a drop in investment, causing people to cut consumer spending and starting a cycle of layoffs that lead back to even lower employment rates.
E) falling employment rates that are triggered by a drop in investment, that cause cutbacks in consumer spending and the start of a cycle of layoffs leading to even lower employment rates.

Please explain the answer choices !

I must point out that the original sentence is probably accidentally changed in choice (A). The verb "starts" is rewritten as "start". I think "starts" is correct and the correct answer is choice (A). However, I cannot explain it clearly because I'm a future test-taker as well!

Good Luck

Is it C?

For an explanation of this problem, see the post entitled "SC Question Bank: Modifiers w/ relative Pronouns" and authored by aaa.

-dan