Many senior senators have created large staffs by means of

Question

11. Many senior senators have created large staffs by means of their committee positions, while junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with less aides than they need.
(A) while junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with less aides than they need
(B) at the same time junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with less aides than are necessary
(C) and junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with less than the necessary number of aides (D) while junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with fewer aides than they need
(E) but junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with their fewer than needed aides

mikeCoolBoy · Answer

I'll go with D in this one.

aides is plural and countable, so we need to use "few" instead of "less". I eliminate A, B and C.

In E, I don't like the contrast using "but".
I also think that with "fewer aides than they need" is preferred to "their fewer than needed aides"

skg · Answer

I think the answer is D,

Less is not the right word for countable objects: so A,B,C are out.
Between D and E , I think D is more appropriate

gmate2010 · Answer

A,B and C are not correct as explained above.

for D and E.

D is more precise.

Both but and while are correctly used here..

The only thing wrong with E is needed is modifying aides. Are there any unneeded aides as well?

Hence, answer is D only..

getmba · Answer

D looks good.

Usually subordinating conjunctions(in this case  while ) are used to connect Main clause to subordinate clause but in this case “junior senators who want to be more active are forced to limp along with fewer aides than they need” is also a main clause. 
Aren’t we supposed to use a coordinating conjunction? Although choice E uses  but , which is a coordinating conjunctions but “with their fewer than needed aides” is not in line with original meaning. So I picked D.

Would someone throw some light on it?

bassiseema · Answer

I go with D.
First, while is used to compare things at the same time so the correct form should contain while and not at the same time because while is one word.

and few and less. since aides are countable- so use few and not less than.

thailandvc · Answer

D.

As a sub rule: 
Fewer for plural nouns: "I have less papers to write than last year"
Less for singular nouns: "I need less paper if I type my report"

age · Answer

D for me too...fewer is correct usage....and we need while here to introduce clause..

mrbgam · Answer

I go for D because of "less" word

Many senior senators have created large staffs by means of

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