[讨论]OG11th-3

3.       Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

(A)    ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only

(B)     rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed

(C)         has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed

(D)        are the nation's third leading causes death, surpassed only

(E)    have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed

选A？

I agree.

3. Diabetes, together with its serious complication, ranks as the nation’s third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

(A)   ranks as the nation’s third leading cause of death, surpassed only

(B)   rank as the nation’s third leading cause of death, only surpassed

(C)   has the rank of the nation’s third leading cause of death, only surpassed

(D)  are the nation’s third leading causes of death, surpassed only

(E)   have been ranked as the nation’s third leading causes of death, only surpassed

Agreement + Logical predication

This sentence correctly matches the singular verb, ranks, with the singular subject, diabetes, and uses the present tense to indicate a current situation. The phrase following diabetes is set off by a pair of commas, indicating that it is from the sentence; it is not a part of the subject. Only is placed with precision next to the group of words it actually limits, by heart disease and cancer. Placed before surpassed, only would more ambiguously limit surpassed.

A  Correct. In the original sentence, the subject and verb agree, and the proper tense is used; only is correctly placed next to the phrase it limits.

B  Ranks does not agree with diabetes; only limits surpassed rather than by heart disease and cancer

C  Has the rank of is wordy and unidiomatic; only limits surpassed rather than by heart disease and cancer

D  Construction are…causes does not agree with diabetes

E  Construction have been ranked…causes does not agree with diabetes and uses the wrong verb tense; only limits surpassed rather than by heart disease and cancer

The correct answer is A.

Carolhide, you are so sweet

请问D项的错误是因为the nation's third leading causes of... 中causes 多了 s么？ 谢谢！ 

考点：主谓一致

Diabetes为不可数名词（＂病＂一般都加s不可数），故排除B(rank)D(are)E(have).

only为极限修饰词，位置不能随意发生改变而且选项A(ranks as..)同选项C(has the rank of...)相比较，以GMAT考试的简洁原则，选择A.