Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco

Question

Although the government's  expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than  that spent by tobacco companies, many believe that the government should allocate no more funds to a battle they perceive as pointless.

(A) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than
(B) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically less than
(C) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically lower than
(D) law suit expenditures regarding tobacco companies amount to a dramatically lower sum than
(E) law suit expenditures against tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than

I thought when comparing two things or a statistic, using less than was correct

DmitryFarber · Accepted Answer

pikolo2510  "Less" compares amounts or extents:

I am paid less for editing than for writing.
There is less wine in my glass than in yours.
I find smokers less attractive than non-smokers.

"Lower" compares two numbers or measurements:

I am paid at a lower rate for editing than for writing. (Here, we're comparing my rate of pay, as opposed to the amount of money I get.)
The level of wine in the bottle got steadily lower.
The number of smokers is lower than the number of non-smokers.

In this question, we're comparing sums (amounts), so "lower" is appropriate.

gmatter0913 · Answer

So dollars, miles, and hours are some examples of the UNIT NOUNS...right??

Also correct me if I am wrong in the following:

Greater than: Used only when comparing numbers alone. ( Six is greater than Five)
More than: Used when comparing number of objects. ( 600 pens are more than 500 pens)
Higher than: Used for physical entities.

Less than: Used with UNCOUNTABLE except for the above UNIT NOUNS exception.
Fewer than: Used with COUNTABLE nouns

ichha148 · Answer

I will go with C

lower than is correct in this case , also amounts is wrong so A and E are out\
B - out uses less than 
D out uses a dramatically lower sum than

ugimba · Answer

Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than that spent by tobacco companies, many believe that the government should allocate no more funds to a battle they perceive as pointless.

(A) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies  amounts  to a sum dramatically lower than
(B) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically  less than 
(C) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically lower than
(D)  law suit expenditures regarding  tobacco companies amount to a  dramatically lower sum   than
(E) law suit expenditures against tobacco companies  amounts  to a sum dramatically lower than

I think expediture is countable, so 'lower than' instead of 'less than' .

C.

gmatter0913 · Answer

Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than that spent by tobacco companies, many believe that the government should allocate no more funds to a battle they perceive as pointless.

(A) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than
(B) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically less than
(C) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically lower than
(D) law suit expenditures regarding tobacco companies amount to a dramatically lower sum than
(E) law suit expenditures against tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than

OA is C. I know that this question has been discussed earlier, but I wanted a comprehensive answer...

I know that lower is used for countable nouns and less is used for uncountable nouns. But, I read in an MGMAT answer explanation that there are three exceptions to this rule. The three are: money, distance, and time.

You say "I got less than twenty dollars", not "I got fewer than twenty dollars".

On the other hand, you say "I got lower percentage than him". You don't use "less percentage"
I read somewhere that lower and higher is used for physical entities.

I am a bit confused between 'lower than vs less than vs fewer than'. Similarly with higher than vs. more than vs. greater than.
Could somebody clarify this please?

pikolo2510 · Answer

Hi GMATNinja / mikemcgarry Hope you are doing good

Can you help the explain the difference between "less than" and "lower than" Any concept / dope will be really helpful to understand the usage difference. Thanks

pikolo2510 · Answer

Can you help explain the difference between less than vs lower than?

aceGMAT21 · Answer

I was also confused between  'lower than vs less than vs fewer than' . Similarly with  higher than vs. more than vs. greater than.

If anyone has still a confusion regarding the above usages, please follow this link below, (detailed explanation by MikemcGarry in Magoosh Blog)

1.  https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-grammar-less-vs-fewer/ 
2.  https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-comparisons-more-vs-greater-and-less-vs-fewer/

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

Expenditures is plural so its verb (originally amounts) needs to be plural as well. Eliminate (A) and (E). Scan for differences among the remaining choices: should the sum be less than or lower than? Lower than is right; less is only correct when it refers to something that can't be counted (less legislation but lower sums). That leaves (C) and (D). Should the choice begin expenditures on law suits or law suit expenditures? The second is unclear and unidiomatic in this context so axe it and you're left with (C).

tusharaggarwal · Answer

Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than that spent by tobacco companies, many believe that the government should allocate no more funds to a battle they perceive as pointless.
// This qustion requires understanding of multiple concepts such as:
1. Use superlative degree for comparison.
2. Subject Verb agreement.
3. Logical meaning.

(A) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than// Wrong: Violates Rule SVA by using amounts for expenditures//
(B) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically less than// Wrong: Violates Rule 1 by using less than for comparison//
(C) expenditures on law suits involving tobacco companies amount to a sum dramatically lower than// Correct: Rule 1 correct, Rule 2 correct and intended meaning i also correct//
(D) law suit expenditures regarding tobacco companies amount to a dramatically lower sum than// Intended meaning is wrong//
(E) law suit expenditures against tobacco companies amounts to a sum dramatically lower than// Wrong: SVA violation//

Hope this helps...

paolodeppa · Answer

Why that?
please explain for guaranteed kudos

DmitryFarber · Answer

paolodeppa  We can't say that the expenditure was "regarding tobacco companies." We spend money  on  things, not  regarding  them.

Tamalmallick13 · Answer

Dear Experts,

Can you explain how can we use "Lower" for countable nouns? It is still not clear.

raymondholt · Answer

Is not this contradicting with this official question? https://gmatclub.com/forum/even-though- ... 67642.html

DmitryFarber · Answer

Tamalmallick13

We're not using "lower" for a countable noun. It is modifying SUM, not EXPENDITURES.

raysayshooray

Can you clarify? What are you seeing as a contradiction?

Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although the government's expenditures on law suits involving tobacco

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