1. It is true that THE NUMBER OF is correct. Nevertheless, the given sentence refers to THE NUMBERS OF TRUCKS. And even if this phrase were perfectly good, the presence of a correct structure in a sentence does not mean that the entire sentence is correct. What about the factor of meaning, which is fundamental in the GMAT?

2. The fact is that in the context of the sentence, the phrase THE NUMBERS OF TRUCKS is very imprecise. Which numbers are these? The given sentence says that in 1914 a certain number of cars and trucks were produced but that in 1929 almost twice the numbers of trucks alone were produced. These NUMBERS are not clearly related to the number of cars and trucks produced in 1914, so the statement can only be understood through an effort of the imagination. In the GMAT, sentences cannot rely on the interpretations of readers to force an intended meaning to come out of hiding: the intention and the meaning must coincide and be clear.

3. For this reason, option B is far preferable. The phrase THAT NUMBER uses the demonstrative adjective THAT to refer back to the 469,000 cars and trucks and to say that in 1929 not 469,000 cars and trucks but almost twice the figure of 469,000 TRUCKS ALONE were produced: in other words, almost 938,000 trucks.

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