Sentence Correction

We all know you'd never see a brand name like this on the official test. In this case, that's actually germane to the question of whether this is countable or not countable. Shoes are countable, but would GMAC consider a brand name of a shoe countable? I have no idea because it doesn't use something like this on the test!

I also don't think the official test would test us on "illogical meaning" in this way. Basically, the problem with the meaning is that the "more than ever" applies to the expectations, not to the number being sold. So the shoes are "more than ever expected" to be sold. If that's really what the person wants to say, there's nothing wrong with that. It just sounds funny because it's sort of a funny thing to point out: the shoes are always expected to sell but they're "more than ever" expected to sell this season. The real test is a lot more clear about redundancy or illogical meaning in order to let us know that we should change the original meaning.

B is redundant ("more than ever will be sold" and "than previously.")

As others have noticed, C has a sub/verb mismatch (plural noun + sing verb).

D: Because it says "Manolo BlahnikS" - I have to assume they're using this word as a countable noun. You don't add an "s" to the end of an uncountable noun to make it plural. I have many bottles of water. I have much water. I have much waterS? I have many dollars in my wallet. I have much money in my wallet. I have much moneyS (or monies) in my wallet?

And if it's countable, you'd say "number" not "amount." So D's no good.

E is the best of what's offered. It's still awkward, but I sometimes think official test question correct answers are awkward too, so whatever. It fixes the above issues and also correctly uses "increase" instead of "greater than" - we're talking about the change of one thing over time (which matches with increase), not the comparison of two things (which matches with greater than).

* * *
More than ever, Manolo Blahniks are expected to be sold this season, due to their mention on the popular television show GMAT and the city.


A) More than ever, Manolo Blahniks are expected to be sold this season,
B) It is expected that more Manolo Blahniks than ever will be sold this season than previously and that is
C) The Manolo Blahniks expected to be sold this season is more than ever
D) The amount of Manolo Blahniks that will be sold this season is expected to be greater than ever
E) A great increase in the number of Manolo Blahniks expected to be sold this season is

I just noticed the title of this thread. Is this question from Manhattan Review? I don't recognize it from the ManhattanGMAT books (and I just searched through myself and couldn't find it). So I don't think it's ours but I do want to know if it is because, if so, I'm going to suggest some changes to the problem. Please let me know!

Manhattan Review? or ManhattanGMAT? (Those are two different companies.)