The controversial restructuring plan for the county school

[BTGmoderatorDC]

The controversial restructuring plan for the county school district, if approved by the governor, would result in 30% fewer teachers and 15% less classroom contact-time throughout schools in the county.

(A) in 30% fewer teachers and 15% less
(B) in 30% fewer teachers and 15% fewer
(C) in 30% less teachers and 15% less
(D) with 30% fewer teachers and 15% fewer
(E) with 30% less teachers and 15% less

OA A

Source: Magoosh

[deloitte247]

Option A- Correct
Usage of fewer and less will be looked at here. We fewer with countable nouns (in this case, we refer to TEACHERS) while lesser is used with uncountable noun ( we refer to TIME). Therefore, 30% fewer teachers means the work rate has been cut short by 15% in the school. Automatically, the policy translates that a shortfall in the number of teachers would mean a shortfall in the contact time.

Option B- Incorrect
Here, we cannot use fewer with time as time is an uncountable noun. Although, the writer seeks to compare between two subjects neglecting the "objects". Teachers being the SUBJECT and contact-time being the OBJECT.

Option C- Incorrect
This statement is not in consistent with the original statement because it does not distinguish between the subject 'TEACHER' and the object 'CONTACT-TIME'. Furthermore, Less cannot be used correctly with the countable noun 'TEACHERS'

Option D- Incorrect
There are two inconsistent issues here. First, is the use of conjunction ''with'' which means the policy would come with the directive from the Governor. Secondly, there's no need for ''fewer'' here in the case of the object. Less could have been used.

Option E- Incorrect
The use of ''with'' and ''less'' being the culprit doesn't fit in well to this context.