The personal income tax did not become permanent in the United States until the First World War; before that time the federal government was dependent on tariffs to be their main source of revenue.
Meaning Analysis
- The personal income tax did not become permanent in the United States until the First World War;
The sentence presents a fact. It says that before World War I, the tax on personal income was not a fixed feature in the USA. Reading further:
- before that time the federal government was dependent on tariffs to be their main source of revenue.
This part gives us more information regarding what the situation was before WWI. It tells us that before World War I, tariffs were the primary source of income for the federal government.
To sum up, the sentence presents a fact from the past. It says that in the USA, tax on personal income became a fixed feature only after World War I. Till then, the federal government mainly relied on tariffs for revenue.
Error Analysis
Pronoun Error
Use of plural pronoun their is incorrect to refer to the singular noun entity the federal government.
POE
Choice A
Incorrect
This choice has the error pointed out in the error analysis.
Choice B
Correct
This is the correct answer choice. The pronoun error of Choice A has been rectified. Use of as makes it absolutely clear that tariffs were the main source of income. Also, this choice uses the past perfect tense verb had depended, which is also correct to show the earlier past event of depending.
Choice C
Incorrect
Wordy
Although this choice conveys the same meaning as Option B does, the use of what clause makes this choice very wordy and indirect.
Choice D
Incorrect
Meaning Error
This grammatically correct answer choice completely distorts the intended meaning of the sentence. This choice illogically says that the main source of revenue was dependent on tariffs. However, we know from the intended meaning that it’s the federal government, which was dependent on tariffs and not the source of revenue itself.
Choice E
Incorrect
1. Pronoun Error
This choice repeats the pronoun error of Choice A.
2. Meaning Error
This choice starts with the prepositional phrase modifier …for their main source of revenue. Hence, the clause following this phrase must start with the logical and grammatical antecedent of the pronoun their for the clear meaning. However, use of passive voice construction …tariffs were depended on… not only makes this choice imprecise but also illogically seems to suggest that tariffs is the antecedent of their.
