818. The reports from the Department of Commerce indicated that the economy had grown at an annual rate much higher than most economists had predicted may occur.

(A) had predicted may occur
(B) had predicted
(C) predicted the occurrence of
(D) predicted may occur
(E) predicted

Solution:

Tenses + Redundancy

In A and D, “predicted” along with “may occur” leads to redundancy.
In C and E, it has been illogically suggested that economists “predicted” after the economy had already grown. Furthermore, in C, “the occurrence of” is not needed after “predicted”.
In B, the use “had grown” with “had predicted” conveys the intended meaning that the prediction was made before the economy had grown and hence, B is the best choice.


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