Severe and increasing numerous critics are pointing to deficiencies in

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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
The intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that severe critics who are increasing in number are pointing to deficiencies in the British legal system.

Concepts tested here: Parallelism + Meaning + Tenses

• An adjective can only modify a noun; it cannot modify another adjective. To modify an adjective, an adverb must be used; generally, "adjective + ly" leads to an adverb.
• The simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.

A: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly modifies the adjective “numerous” with “increasing” rather than the adverb “increasingly”; please remember, an adjective can only modify a noun; it cannot modify another adjective. To modify an adjective, an adverb must be used; generally, "adjective + ly" leads to an adverb.

B: This answer choice incorrectly modifies the adjective “numerous” with “increasing” rather than the adverb “increasingly”; please remember, an adjective can only modify a noun; it cannot modify another adjective. To modify an adjective, an adverb must be used; generally, "adjective + ly" leads to an adverb. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “point” to refer to an action that is currently ongoing and continuous in nature; please remember, the simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies the adjective “numerous” with the adverb “increasingly”. Further, Option C uses the phrase "Severe and...numerous critics", conveying the intended meaning - that severe critics who are increasing in number are pointing to deficiencies in the British legal system. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the present continuous tense verb “are pointing” to refer to an action that is currently ongoing and continuous in nature

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Severely...numerous"; using “Severely” to modify "numerous" leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that severe critics who are increasing in number are pointing to deficiencies in the British legal system.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Severely...numerous"; using “Severely” to modify "numerous" leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that severe critics who are increasing in number are pointing to deficiencies in the British legal system.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

Additional Note: Please note that although “Severely” is an adverb that can modify an adjective (“numerous” in this case), “severity” is a measure of intensity and cannot be applied to numeric measures such as “numerous”, as done in Options D and E.

To understand the concept of "Simple Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team