Alpacas’ fleece

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Though this question is already discussed at:
alpacas-fleece-is-worth-surprisingly-little-compared-to-70189.html
Posting it again for a clarification.

Alpacas’ fleece is worth surprisingly little compared to their market value; a top breeding specimen bringing upwards of $100,000 even if five pounds of fleece fetches only $80 to $240.
• Alpacas’ fleece is worth surprisingly little compared to their market value; a top breeding specimen bringing upwards of $100,000 even if five pounds of fleece fetches
• Alpacas’ fleece is worth surprisingly little in comparison with its market value; a top breeding specimen bringing upwards of $100,000 while five pounds of fleece fetches
• The fleece of the alpaca is worth surprisingly little compared to its market value, while a top breeding specimen can bring upwards of $100,000 even though five pounds of fleece fetch
• The fleece of the alpaca is worth surprisingly little compared to the animal’s market value; a top breeding specimen can bring upwards of $100,000 while five pounds of fleece fetch
• The worth of the alpaca’s fleece is surprisingly little compared to the animal’s market value; a top breeding specimen can bring upwards of $100,000 even though five pounds of fleece fetches

My question is whether five pounds of fleece singular or plural?

five pounds of fleece
IMO plural because they have more than one pound i.e 5 pounds of ....
I think it is too difficult to justify a singular pick on a GMAT question split that clearly hinges on this issue.
also go through
http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/alp ... t1057.html
and
http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/21- ... t6796.html
lemme me know what ur mind says after going through them.

Thanks rajeev. But still five pounds of fleece fetches seems good to my ear ... I need time to grasp it other way though !

+1 D

Don't trust in your ear. Only if it is necessary.
THe GMAT has specific rules that even can sound awkward in the informal English.

pounds of... is plural.

Notwithstanding the endless debate whether - five pounds- refers to a quantum and therefore singular or - five pounds - is considered a numerically plural phrase, I still have a couple of substantive points about the official answer D

1. Is it right to compare the fleece, a product or commodity, which is the subject of the choice, with an animal’s market value. You must compare a product with another product and not the product’s something. I feel the comparison is illegal in D

2. Does it help to use the word ‘while’ to mark contrast, a word that has multi-dimensional meanings? Wouldn’t be a simple and forthright word or phrase such as - though, or even though or although – a better alternative in terms of clear expression?


Finally, if this is an OG question or GPREP question, then I will capitulate and accept the official answer as D, just in line with the professed philosophy that we should not contest official answers. If not so, can we discuss these points?

only C and D remain .All the rest can be eliminated because 5 pounds of flee is plural and hence the verb should be fetch .And while is used to bring in contrast and preferred over the word even though !! Hence the best option is D.