Manhattan SC: Meaning + Quantity

Question

Poor weather in early 14th-century Europe created meager harvests, causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as 15 percent of the population.

A)causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as
B)causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and eliminating as much as
C)resulting in mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as much as
D)and resulted in mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as
E)causing mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as

[spoiler]OA:C[/spoiler]

GMATGuruNY · Answer

joealam1 wrote:Poor weather in early 14th-century Europe created meager harvests, causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as 15 percent of the population.

A)causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as
B)causing the result of mass starvation in some areas and eliminating as much as
C)resulting in mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as much as
D)and resulted in mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as
E)causing mass starvation in some areas and the elimination of as many as

To cause X means to result in X.
A and B: causing the result
Conveyed meaning:
resulting in the result
This meaning is redundant.
Eliminate A and B.

much serves to refer to a noun that takes a SINGULAR verb.
many serves to refer to a noun that takes a PLURAL verb.
Incorrect: 15 percent of the population are tall.
Correct: 15 percent of the population IS tall.
D and E: as many as 15 percent of the population
Here, many cannot serve to refer to the blue phrase, which takes a singular verb.
Eliminate D and E.

The correct answer is C.

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GMATsid2016 · Answer

Correct: 15 percent of the population IS tall. D and E: as many as 15 percent of the population Here, many cannot serve to refer to the blue phrase, which takes a singular verb. Hi GMATGuruNY , Can you please explain that why 15 percent of the population takes the singular verb? Thanks, Sid

GMATGuruNY · Answer

GMATsid2016 wrote: Correct: 15 percent of the population IS tall. D and E: as many as 15 percent of the population Here, many cannot serve to refer to the blue phrase, which takes a singular verb. Hi GMATGuruNY , Can you please explain that why 15 percent of the population takes the singular verb? Thanks, Sid By definition, population is singular. As a result, 15 percent of the population also is singular. For more about this line of reasoning, check my post here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-t76341-15.html

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