hk_4u wrote:Hi Stuart
few queries related to this question
1 - the growing number of people who blah blah
VS
the number of people who purchased tickets are growing
My initial impression was that the growing number of people is wrong. Since the question does not tests this, it doesn't really matter. But are both forms correct and acceptable ?
The first version is definitely correct; growing is an adjective that modifies "number", which is perfect.
The second version is fine as long as we change "are" to "is", since "number" is a singular noun when preceded by "the". ("A number of people", on the other hand, is a plural subject.)
2 - usage of the fact that - I have read on a few threads that this usage is always wrong in GMAT , your comments ?
This usage is usually wrong on the GMAT because of how it's used; it's not inherently incorrect, but often turns out to be wrong for modification/agreement reasons on the test (most people use it incorrectly in everyday life, which is why the GMAT models that incorrect usage).
3 - Does the position of "that" really matters ? Again ,I feel it is not really tested as all other options have clear idiom or tense errors .
I feel both these forms are fine
officials are convinced,modifier, that many travelers ...
officials are convinced that ,modifier ,many travelers ...
If the parenthetical phrase (i.e. what's between the commas) is modifying "convinced", then "that" should come after the commas; if the parenthetical phrase is related to what comes after "that", then "that" needs to precede the commas.
Here's an example of when "that" would come after the commas:
"Officials are convinced, as are many members of the public, that the new regulations will be difficult to enforce."
Here's an example of when "that" would precede the commas:
"Officials are convinced that, because of widespread corruption in the system, the new regulations will be difficult to enforce."
Here's another way to think about it: if the part inside the commas and after the commas can stand alone as a sentence, "that" must precede the commas.
In the first example, we'd have: "As are many members of the public, the new regulations will be difficult to enforce." Clearly non-sensical, so "that" goes after the commas.
In the second example, we'd have: "Because of widespread corruption in the system, the new regulations will be difficult to enforce." This sentence does make sense and can stand alone, so "that" precedes the commas.
4 - The method of comparison is new for me. I haven't really seen any other question where 2 clauses are compared in such a way. Is it a common thing to do ?
Not sure what you mean by this last question!