An international group of more than 2,000 scientists project an averag

The subject of the sentence is ‘group’, so the correct verb is ‘projects’ … this eliminates A, B, and C.

Also, the average is a fixed number. It is not a range.

Imagine someone average GMAT score is 730 (in multiple attempts).

We can say: His average score is between 720 and 740. CORRECT

But we can’t say: His average score is from 720 to 740. INCORRECT

Same deal here: So D is wrong.

Correct: E

It's (E).

You'll find a very good explanation from this link.

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/an- ... t2322.html

Thank MGMAT for this.

Subject verb agreement rules out A,B,C.
Between D and E, E is better because D says an average from X to Y and that definitely doesn't make sense. An Average is never from X to Y.

I picked E.

Eliminate A, B and C as group is singular hence it should be "projects" not "project".

The scientists don't know the exactly how much the global warming would be. Hence it's "between" 1.8 and 6.3.

Hence go for E.

MGMAT Explanation:
well, d has two problems, at least:
- 'projects X to do Y' is unidiomatic. (you can just say 'projects NOUN', as is done in choice e, or you can say something like 'projects that X will do Y').
- an average is a single data point, so there's no such thing as 'averag[ing] from 1.8 to 6.3'. on the other hand, it's quite possible for a single data point to fall between two given values.

All would be able to narrow down to D and E as a singular verb projects is required. Now between D and E, the average is a single data point and cannot be a range hence average from X to Y is incorrect. However average can be between 2 numbers hence we can go for E.

well, d has two problems, at least:
- 'projects X to do Y' is unidiomatic. (you can just say 'projects NOUN', as is done in choice e, or you can say something like 'projects that X will do Y').
- an average is a single data point, so there's no such thing as 'averag[ing] from 1.8 to 6.3'. on the other hand, it's quite possible for a single data point to fall between two given values.

i've seen 'of between' in this sense before - think of the phrase 'between 1.8 and 6.3' as standing for a single number, and parse the sentence accordingly (it reads as if it said 'average g.w. of 5 degrees', for instance) - so, if the original poster has copied the problem correctly, we now know that the gmat accepts that construction.

Hi ugimba,

Thank you for your question. Let's start by looking at the most obvious difference between each answer: project vs. projects.

The subject of the sentence is "An international group," which is a singular subject that needs a singular verb to match. The verb "project" is a plural verb, so we should rule out any answers that use "project": A, B, & C.

Now we're left with answers D & E. While they look similar, they mean different things:

(D) projects global warming to average from 1.8 to
This means that the temperature of the Earth will be somewhere between 1.8 and 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2000. If this is true, we're not talking about global warming - it's going to be cold! The way this is written changes the meaning, so it is incorrect.

(E) projects an average global warming of between 1.8 and
This is the correct answer because it uses proper subject-verb agreement, and it keeps the intended meaning. This answer says that Earth will warm between 1.8 and 6.3 degrees MORE than what it already is, which is what the writer intended to say.

In the end, we're left with the correct answer: E.
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the meaning of " project an average global warming that will be between x and y" is different from "project an average global warming of between x and y".

in the latter phrase, the meaning is direct. we project kind XXX. in the first phrase, we project a kind. this meaning is less direct and is different. kind XXX is different from " a kind".

this is hard point to realize. we need to anticipate this case before we enter the test room. the problem is that whenever we insert "noun+relative clause" instead of noun XXX, the meaning is different. the focus of the sentence with noun XXX is the noun XXX while the focus of the noun with a relative clause is only the noun without characteristic XXX.

at least, "a noun+relative clause" is wordy. why dont we say " we project noun XXX" but we " we project a noun that is XXX". clearly, "a noun+ relative clause " is wordy.

A, B and C all use a plural verb to refer to a singular noun. They are all wrong. Out of the remaining two, E is the better option. D says ‘to average from 1.8 to 6.3’. This is not the proper form of the phrase.

An international group of more than 2,000 scientists project an average global warming that will be between 1.8 and 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2000.

An international group is Singular so need Singular Verb

Only D and E survives

Now in D Average is wrongly placed and meaning wise also has problem

E remains


(A) project an average global warming that will be between 1.8 and

(B) project an average global warming to be from 1.8 to

(C) project global warming that will average between 1.8 and

(D) projects global warming to average from 1.8 to

(E) projects an average global warming of between 1.8 and

For whatever it may worth.

We cannot say person X's height is from 5 to 6 feet rather we say that person X's height is between 5 to 6 feet. Similarity we cannot say average from 1.8 to 6.2. Therefore, E is a better answer choice than D.

Option split is between project v/s projects

‘An international group’ is a collective noun. The intention is to refer to entire group and not to individual members of the group. So, the collective noun would function as a singular entity.
This eliminates A, B and C
“The group...projects...warming between X and Y” is more logically because the use of ‘from... to...’ would mean that the warming will start from X deg till it reaches Y deg.

This eliminates option D

Hence Option E is our correct answer.

**Please give kudos if you like the explanation

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An international group of more than 2,000 scientists project an average global warming that will be between 1.8 and 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2000.

(A) project an average global warming that will be between 1.8 and Plural verb "project" incorrectly used for singular subject "group". Eliminate.

(B) project an average global warming to be from 1.8 to Same error as in (A). Eliminate.

(C) project global warming that will average between 1.8 and Same error as in (A) and (B). Eliminate.

(D) projects global warming to average from 1.8 to "average from X to Y" implies that the average takes on different values from X to Y, which cannot be true for a single instance. The correct usage is "average is between X and Y" which implies that there is a single average value and that value lies between X and Y. Eliminate.

(E) projects an average global warming of between 1.8 and Correct answer - above errors are rectified and no new errors are introduced.

Hope this helps.
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Can someone explain why it's projects instead of project. I feel most posts haven't addressed the fact that this is an instance where the entities within a collective entity are acting not the group itself. I.e. the scientists (plural) are the ones doing the projecting.

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Wonder why you say the group is not the subject.

It is no different from:

Flock of birds is flying.

An army of people is marching.
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The subject is an international group so the verb will be projects. A, B, and C are out. As it is a projection to between is correct that to.

The answer is E

Hello CEdward,

Let me try to help you here.

According to the grammar rule, a noun/noun phrase preceded by a preposition can NEVER act as the subject. The noun phrase "more than 2,000 scientists" is actually preceded by the preposition "of". Hence, this phrase CANNOT be the subject.

The subject in this sentence is "An international group". The singular are ticle "an" makes it clear that the noun in teh phrase is singular. Moreover, "group" is a collective noun that always acts as a singular noun. Hence, the subject "An international group" is singular and needs a singular verb.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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no. I dont think so.
a family can be plural or singular.

a family are invited to the office
a family is invited to the office
both above sentences are correct. why do we use singular "projects" here? pls, exaplain.