【0G10-101】解释的很彻底～share with you～

Roxas605

Even though the direct costs of malpractice disputes amounts to a sum lower than 1 percent of the $541 billion the nation spent on health care last year, doctors say fear of lawsuits plays a major role in health-care inflation.

(A) amounts to a sum lower
(B) amounts to less
(C) amounted to less
(D) amounted to lower
(E) amounted to a lower sum

ANSWER

In this sentence, the verb amounts is wrong for two distinct reasons: first, it does not agree with the subject costs, second, it should be in the past tense, amounted, since it shows action completed last year.

Sum is redundant when used with the verb amount.

The sentence does require a noun (less), not an adjective (lower), as the object of the preposition to.

A Amounts does not agree with costs, sentence requires past, not present, tense; sum is redundant
B Past tense verb is needed for action completed last year
C Correct. In this sentence, the past tense verb, amounted, properly indicates action completed last year, and the noun less is used as the object of the preposition to.
D A noun (less), not an adjective (lower), is needed as the object of the preposition to
E A lower sum is wordy and redundant because sum repeats the idea in amounted

The correct answer is C.