GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

MBA
501
as far my knowledge goes "A majority of students--" is treated as plural,"the majority..."is treated as singular since they are talking of a particular majority.
teh same rule applies to A number of and The number of.

hence i feel only 1) is right

please correct me if iam wrong


What i feel is Being majority is singular 2) choice is better.
Could some body explain it..
502
Hi All,
1) A majority of the students are hard workers.
2) A majority of the students works hard.
3) A majority of voters wants to unseat the incumbent.
Is the usage of singular/plural in all the 3 sentences correct?
Pls provide the answer with reasons.
Thanks,
Neeraj


Neeraj,

1) A majority of the students are hard workers - (here, hard workers are students).
Here, you are directly referring to the students. So, it has got to be a plural. See it this way - "Students are hard workers".

The same concept applies to the below two sentences also. Except that the verb takes a singular form when the subject is plural and vice-versa.

2) A majority of students work hard.
3) A majority of voters want to unseat the incumbent.

Cheers,
technogeek
503
Neeraj,

1) A majority of the students are hard workers - (here, hard workers are students).
Here, you are directly referring to the students. So, it has got to be a plural. See it this way - "Students are hard workers".

The same concept applies to the below two sentences also. Except that the verb takes a singular form when the subject is plural and vice-versa.

2) A majority of students work hard.
3) A majority of voters want to unseat the incumbent.

Cheers,
technogeek

Hi Technogeek and IIMBlacki,

The 3rd one is an example of Kaplan and they specifically said that the sentence should be in singular(wants) as majority cannotbe counted and so should be singular. On similar lines, I feel Sentence (2) too will be correct. I have no explanation for 1 except that it feels correct. I, therefore, was looking for an easy funda which could justify the 3 sentences.

Thanks All,
Neeraj
504
Hi,

Dirt roads may evoke the bucolic simplicity of another century, but financially strained townships point out that dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads.
(A) dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads
(B) dirt roads cost twice as much to maintain as paved roads do
(C) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as paved roads do
(D) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as it does for paved roads
(E) to maintain dirt roads costs twice as much as for paved roads

Can anyonehelp me on this...with reasons..!!

Thanks,
Neeraj
505
One more guys...
1) Rakesh is one of the few players who have managed to get an "A"in the exams.
2) One of the few players who has managed to get an "A"in the exams is Rakesh.
3) Rakesh is the only one of the 40 players who has manged to get an "A"in the exam.

Is the use of singular/plural correct here..??(has/have)

-- Neeraj

506

Hi All,

I have 2 questions to discuss in this forum:

1. The use of gravity waves, which do not interact with matter in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes and neutron stars.

A. in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable
B. in the way electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped, enable
C. like electromagnetic waves, hopefully will enable
D. like electromagnetic waves, would enable hopefully
E. such as electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped enable

2. The growth of railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

A. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
B. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed
C. which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
D. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed
E. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

Can someone take a stab at these 2 questions and provide answers with explainations?

Thanks,

Sunil

507
Hi,
Dirt roads may evoke the bucolic simplicity of another century, but financially strained townships point out that dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads.
(A) dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads
(B) dirt roads cost twice as much to maintain as paved roads do
(C) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as paved roads do
(D) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as it does for paved roads
(E) to maintain dirt roads costs twice as much as for paved roads
Can anyonehelp me on this...with reasons..!!
Thanks,
Neeraj


i feel it s B..only when u tell me whether its right or wrong,ill be able to gv my xplanation

in short went by the process of elimination
508
One more guys...
1) Rakesh is one of the few players who have managed to get an "A"in the exams.
2) One of the few players who has managed to get an "A"in the exams is Rakesh.
3) Rakesh is the only one of the 40 players who has manged to get an "A"in the exam.
Is the use of singular/plural correct here..??(has/have)
-- Neeraj


its singular,the sentence talks abut rakesh,who 'has' managed

its similiar to 'each of the students has done their work'
509
Hi All,

I have 2 questions to discuss in this forum:

1. The use of gravity waves, which do not interact with matter in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes and neutron stars.

A. in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable
B. in the way electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped, enable
C. like electromagnetic waves, hopefully will enable
D. like electromagnetic waves, would enable hopefully
E. such as electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped enable

2. The growth of railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

A. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
B. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed
C. which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
D. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed
E. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

Can someone take a stab at these 2 questions and provide answers with explainations?

Thanks,

Sunil


i feel its A and B respectively..if its right ill give my explanation,if it isnt therez no point taking wrong advice
510
IIMblacki07 Says
i feel its A and B respectively..if its right ill give my explanation,if it isnt therez no point taking wrong advice



Well the answer is 1. B and 2. A. Very wierd answers... :neutral:
511
Hi,
Dirt roads may evoke the bucolic simplicity of another century, but financially strained townships point out that dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads.
(A) dirt roads cost twice as much as maintaining paved roads
(B) dirt roads cost twice as much to maintain as paved roads do
(C) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as paved roads do
(D) maintaining dirt roads costs twice as much as it does for paved roads
(E) to maintain dirt roads costs twice as much as for paved roads
Can anyonehelp me on this...with reasons..!!
Thanks,
Neeraj


answer D.

I think all other options dont compare properly:

A. dirt road cost = maintaining paved roads
B. dirt roads costs twice as much to maintain = paved roads
C. this too is similar to B
E. Clearly there is a illogical comparision

Sunil
512
sunil_snath Says
Well the answer is 1. B and 2. A. Very wierd answers... :neutral:



i swear ,very weird answers

2nd question--> choice a lacks in parallelism(differing)
1st question --> choice b is so weird('will')
513
Hi Technogeek and IIMBlacki,
The 3rd one is an example of Kaplan and they specifically said that the sentence should be in singular(wants) as majority cannotbe counted and so should be singular. On similar lines, I feel Sentence (2) too will be correct. I have no explanation for 1 except that it feels correct. I, therefore, was looking for an easy funda which could justify the 3 sentences.
Thanks All,
Neeraj


i found that fact quite surprising.i went thru wren n martin and i searched google on the same and i found that ' a majority of students' is always plural as u are not talking of a particular majority as pointed out by technogeek and me. i ve mentioned my sources above..in case u get any other info on that plz lemme know
514
i swear ,very weird answers

2nd question--> choice a lacks in parallelism(differing)
1st question --> choice b is so weird('will')


IIMBlackie.. Its a relief that you agree with me. by the way these questions were taken from Sentence correction - 250 (Manhattan SC).

Also this is just the beginning of the wierd questions. I will post more questions of this kind when i encounter them.


cheers!!
515
i feel it s B..only when u tell me whether its right or wrong,ill be able to gv my xplanation

in short went by the process of elimination

Hi,

You are right..Its B..!!

-Neeraj
516
Hi All,

I have 2 questions to discuss in this forum:

1. The use of gravity waves, which do not interact with matter in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes and neutron stars.

A. in the way electromagnetic waves do, hopefully will enable
B. in the way electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped, enable
C. like electromagnetic waves, hopefully will enable
D. like electromagnetic waves, would enable hopefully
E. such as electromagnetic waves do, will it is hoped enable

2. The growth of railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

A. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
B. which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed
C. which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
D. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed
E. determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

Can someone take a stab at these 2 questions and provide answers with explainations?

Thanks,

Sunil


Hi Sunil,

First one has to be B..in GMAT..always use "it is hoped" and E is definitely wrong..
Second one..I wd have answered E but as you said..its wrong.. :(

Hope that helps..

thanks,
Neeraj
517
its singular,the sentence talks abut rakesh,who 'has' managed

its similiar to 'each of the students has done their work'



Hi IIMBlacki,

Dont you think in the first one..they mean to say that of all players who got an 'A, Rakesh is one of them and so should be plural....

Ok..what if I say..

Rakesh is one of the players who have got an "A" in exams.

Would you still say, it should be "has" and not "have". The only word that I have added is "many". Not questioning your answer but just wasnt fully convinced..

Thanks,
Neeraj
518
Hi Sunil,

First one has to be B..in GMAT..always use "it is hoped" and E is definitely wrong..
Second one..I wd have answered E but as you said..its wrong.. :(

Hope that helps..

thanks,
Neeraj

hi neeraj,

can u explain me why u chose B.
519
Hi IIMBlacki,

Dont you think in the first one..they mean to say that of all players who got an 'A, Rakesh is one of them and so should be plural....

Ok..what if I say..

Rakesh is one of the players who have got an "A" in exams.

Would you still say, it should be "has" and not "have". The only word that I have added is "many". Not questioning your answer but just wasnt fully convinced..

Thanks,
Neeraj


hi neeraj,

what i feel is Rakesh is the subject in the sentence and its singular thats y 'has' and not have..ur nt talking of 'the many ppl' but rakesh.


jus lemme know if u still have confusion or if u come up with some diff soln:)
520
IIMBlackie.. Its a relief that you agree with me. by the way these questions were taken from Sentence correction - 250 (Manhattan SC).

Also this is just the beginning of the wierd questions. I will post more questions of this kind when i encounter them.


cheers!!


please post the questions which u dto be differnt or weird