1000 SC 164

[magical cook]

Hi,

My answer was C) but the correct answer is E). dose it need to be "those burning gasoline" instead of gasoline??

164. Because natural gas is composed mostly of methane, a simple hydrocarbon, vehicles powered by natural gas emit less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel.
(A) less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel
(B) fewer of certain pollutants than burning gasoline or diesel fuel do
(C) less of certain pollutants than gasoline or diesel fuel
(D) fewer of certain pollutants than does burning gasoline or diesel fuel
(E) less of certain pollutants than those burning gasoline or diesel fuel

[800GMAT]

E is correct because it completes the comparison

We are comparing vehicles powered by natural gas with vehicles that burn gasoline or diesel fuel

So, Vehicles powered by X emit less of pollutants than vehicles burning Y

Or you can also use a pronoun " Those" to refer to vehicles burning Y

So Vehicles powered by X emit less of pollutants than those burning Y

[Cybermusings]

Thanks 800....your explanation sounds plausible and it is in accordance with the rules...but tell me something...Doesnt the sentence sound wordy and redundant after we use the pronoun or the actual noun

[RAGS]

yes it it wordy
But thats the way GMAT wants it to be

[800GMAT]

Although a sentence may sound wordy, you cannot compromise on grammar to make it concise.

[arunima88]

164. Because natural gas is composed mostly of methane, a simple hydrocarbon, vehicles powered by natural gas emit less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel.
(A) less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel
(B) fewer of certain pollutants than burning gasoline or diesel fuel do
(C) less of certain pollutants than gasoline or diesel fuel
(D) fewer of certain pollutants than does burning gasoline or diesel fuel
(E) less of certain pollutants than those burning gasoline or diesel fuel

Why less is used instead of fewer ?

According to this link https://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/ ... r_less.htm less is used for 1 item and fewer is used for multiple items...

Thanks & Regards

AB

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'Less' is used in place of 'fewer' as less is used for uncountable nouns and fewer is used for countable nouns...

Here 'certain pollutants' is a uncountable noun... you cannot count the no. pollutants emitted, can you,,,

hope that helped you...