shilapentokh's study indicated that

[guerrero]

shilapentokh's study indicated that ,in soviet union ,women's absenteeism from their jobs ,despite their home duties and their child-care responsibilities ,were only a fifth of men .

a)were only a fifth of men
b)were only a fifth of men's
c)was only a fifth of men's
d)was only a fifth of men
e)was a fifth of only of that of men

OA

C

[theCodeToGMAT]

is the Answer [spoiler]{C}[/spoiler]

[rakeshd347]

shilapentokh's study indicated that ,in soviet union ,women's absenteeism from their jobs ,despite their home duties and their child-care responsibilities ,were only a fifth of men .

a)were only a fifth of men
b)were only a fifth of men's
c)was only a fifth of men's
d)was only a fifth of men
e)was a fifth of only of that of men

OA

C

C should be the correct answer. A and B are out because Women's absenteeism is singular and needs singular verb "was".
D is gone because of wrong comparison.
E is just too awkward and wrong comparison.

[GMATGuruNY]

Shilapentokh's study indicated that, in the Soviet Union, women's absenteeism from their jobs, despite their home duties and their child-care responsibilities, were only a fifth of men .

a)were only a fifth of men
b)were only a fifth of men's
c)was only a fifth of men's
d)was only a fifth of men
e)was a fifth of only of that of men

In A and B, women's ABSENTEEISM (singular) does not agree with WERE (plural).
Eliminate A and B.

D illogically compares women's ABSENTEEISM to a fifth of MEN.
Apples must be compared to apples; an abstract concept such as absenteeism cannot be compared to people.
Eliminate D.

In E, that seems to refer to absenteeism, implying the following nonsensical meaning:
a fifth of only of the absenteeism.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is C.

The OA employs ELLIPSIS: the omission of word(s) whose presence is understood.
Here is the implied meaning:
Women's absenteeism was only a fifth of men's [absenteeism].
The word is brackets is omitted, but its presence is understood.

[vinay1983]

shilapentokh's study indicated that ,in soviet union ,women's absenteeism from their jobs ,despite their home duties and their child-care responsibilities ,were only a fifth of men .

a)were only a fifth of men
b)were only a fifth of men's
c)was only a fifth of men's
d)was only a fifth of men
e)was a fifth of only of that of men

OA

C

Splits available 3/2

Were and was.This case was is correct.We need to show some possession,absenteeism of men, so men's is correct.

Option C