Question

should present metal prices continue their sharp rise, the value of the copper in a penny will soon be greater than the face value of the coin. (a) should present metal prices continue their sharp rise, (b) if present metal prices are continuing their sharp rise, (c) if present metal prices continue to sharply rise, d) continuation of sharply rising metal prices should mean that (e) metal prices’ sharp rise continuing should mean that

Answer 1

A conventional infinitive construction: to VERB. A split infinitive occurs when the writer places something in between the "to" and the "VERB." Some grammarians argue that split infinitives are ungrammatical, though there is no consensus.

In answer choice C, we have "to sharply rise," so "sharply" separates "to" and "rise," creating a split infinitive. Not a terribly important rule for the GMAT.