As the housing affordability gap widens, middle-income families are especially hard-hit, and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and rising rental rates force them to use far more than the standard 25 percent of their incomes for housing, leaving them with no equity or tax write-offs to offset the expenditures.

(A) and these families can no longer qualify to buy homes, and
(B) since these families can no longer afford to buy homes, furthermore
(C) for these families can no longer afford to buy homes, yet
(D) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes; however,
(E) and these families can no longer afford to buy homes, for

In this problem between B & C. I am getting a little confused.

Is it not true that to begin an explanation with 'For' is incorrect (in GMAT) ? A preposition such as for cannot begin a clause, can it ? And it seeks to explain what has been said earlier , so since seems to be a better choice. Although Yet is more appropriate than 'furthermore', which is probably outdated and obsolete. But it does explain the intent of the statement clearly, for (Since ) C seems to commit the error of using a preposition.

Could you please explain, there is a question in OG that says "smokers in a survey worried about their prospects to get hired decrease.." Vs "smokers worried that their prospects to get hired decrease" ... Here that is required, as it introduces a depended clause, Using sowewhat similar logic, shouldnt this be 'Since' too ?

for can be used as a mild form of because so here for is correct. more over yet is the right link between the two reasons. :twisted:

Please cite the source (author) of this problem. We cannot reply unless a source is cited (and, if no source is cited, we will have to delete the post!). Thanks.

If you don't know the source, one work around is to make up a sentence with the same issue/s. Please get back to us.

_________________
Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

It is a 1000 SC

Please try to stick to OG and MGMAT sources everyone; you’ll get a lot more out of your study time that way.. :)

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Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor