775. The main reasons for the phenomenal growth of agribusiness over the last fifteen years are because of elevated land prices, the basing of retail marketing networks on produce imported from other states, and decreased competition from developers.

(A) because of elevated land prices, the basing of retail marketing networks
(B) a result of elevated land prices, retail marketing networks based
(C) that land prices are elevated, retail marketing networks are based
(D) elevated land prices, retail marketing networks based
(E) because land prices are elevated, the basing of retail marketing networks

Solution:

Idioms + Redundancy

In A and E, “..main reasons.....are because” leads to redundancy.
In B, “main reasons are…a result…” is wordy.
In C, “main reasons… are that…” unidiomatic.
In D, “...main reasons ...are elevated…” is idiomatic and hence, D is the best choice.

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