the golden macaques

[drgmatIL]

Most primates are immune to feline rhinovirus, but a specific group, this being the golden macaques, are highly susceptible to the organism.
(A) a specific group, this being the golden macaques, are highly susceptible to
(B) a specific group, the golden macaques, is highly susceptible to
(C) one group, specifically golden macaques, is highly susceptible of
(D) a specific group, the golden macaques, which are highly susceptible to
(E) a specific group, the golden macaques, which are highly susceptible of


can someone explain me the hidden pattern here?

thanks

[GMATDavid]

Hi,

Generally on the GMAT, "being" is wrong. But more importantly here, the subject is "group". Group is a collective noun and is singular even though it is composed of many things, here macaques. Thus, eliminate (A), (D) and (E) because they read group . . . are.

For B and C, the issue is the preposition. We say susceptible to, not of. Thus, eliminate (B).

Cheers,

[Stockmoose16]

Hi,

Generally on the GMAT, "being" is wrong. But more importantly here, the subject is "group". Group is a collective noun and is singular even though it is composed of many things, here macaques. Thus, eliminate (A), (D) and (E) because they read group . . . are.

For B and C, the issue is the preposition. We say susceptible to, not of. Thus, eliminate (B).

Cheers,

GMATDAVID is incorrect. The OA is B, not C. I think he meant to say, "eliminate C."

[GMATDavid]

Thanks. I knew as I hit post, I might have switched the two answers.