As an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending ins

IMO B

As an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting away from favoring men towards an equal distribution, and, in some cases, even towards favoring women.

(A) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting
prefer ''opportunity to'' than ''opportunity of''

(B) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting
correct

(C) As an increasing amount of women has the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students are shifting
''Amount'' used to denote uncountables, use ''number'' to denote countable

(D) As an increasing amount of women has the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting
''Amount'' used to denote uncountables, use ''number'' to denote countable

(E) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students are shifting
''Are'' is plural, ''the balance'' is singluar

As an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting away from favoring men towards an equal distribution, and, in some cases, even towards favoring women.

Meaning of the original sentence:

1.Because an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning
2. the balance between male and female students is shifting away
3. from favoring men towards an equal distribution, and, in some cases, even towards favoring women.

Errors of the original sentence:

In general I don't like when I meet question only with idiom error and no other error is the sentence.

Correct idiom:
opportunity to do something
You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions at the end
opportunity for something
There was no opportunity for further discussion.

But not opportunity of

an increasing number - plural - have - plural - agrees in number and verb tense is fine, shows the result.
the balance - singular - is - singular - agrees in number and verb tense is fine, shows currently ongoing action, balance is shifting.

'as' - to present reason, can be replaced with "because" and "since"

POE


(A) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting

(C) As an increasing amount of women has the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students are shifting
(amount - uncountable - women - countable, the balance - singular - are - plural)

(D) As an increasing amount of women has the opportunity of attending institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting
(amount - uncountable - women - countable)

(E) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students are shifting
(the balance - singular - are - plural)

(B) As an increasing number of women have the opportunity to attend institutes of higher learning, the balance between male and female students is shifting


B is the answer

IMO B.

First pass: shifting refers to balance, which is singular. Hence, is shifting is correct. This eliminates C and E.

Second pass: Women being plural will take have. This removes C.

Between A and B, opportunity to attend should be preferrerd to opportunity of attending.

Inputs on last pass are welcome.

Posted from my mobile device

Process of Elimination:-

1. S/V Agreement:
Balance is singular ; So, Balance .. is.. ; C and E goes off.
2. Countable vs Non-Countable
(Number vs amount)
Women are countable; So, number of women ; D goes off ( Also C for same reason)
3. Infinitive of purpose
(Of attenting vs to attend)
to attend shows the intent and purpose.
Hence to attend is preferred.
A goes off.
Therefore Correct Answer is B.

Posted from my mobile device

Official Explanation :

The sentence has an idiom error: opportunity of attending should be opportunity to attend. Eliminate (A) and (D).

Look at the remaining answers to see there's a split between number and amount at the very beginning. The word is being used to describe women, and women are countable,so the correct word to use is number. Eliminate (C).

Comparing (B) and (E), the difference is at the end of the underlined portion. Choice (B) says is shifting while (E) says are shifting. The verb refers to the balance, which is singular, so eliminate (E). Correct answer is (B).

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.