Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus the

Question

Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus  the short term risks and volatility of technology stocks, but they have generally overlooked some of the serious flaws in the banking structure, clearance and settling issues.

(A) Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus
(B) Analyzing the recent stock market crash, the media has had as a focus
(C) Analyses of the recent stock market crash by the media has been focus on
(D) In analyzing stock market crash, the media have focused on
(E) In their analysis of stock market crash, the media has been focusing on

Please explain your answers.Thanks in advance.

sjayasa · Answer

IMO A.

'Media' is a collective noun here and collective nouns are considered as singular on the GMAT. (expert advice would be great)
For instance - Crowd, Orchestra, Team, Audience, etc are all collective nouns and are singular.

The subject here is Media analyses (plural from of analysis), because the number must agree with the latter part of the sentence - 'but  they  have generally overlooked'.

(A) Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus  - Correct IMO 
(B) Analyzing the recent stock market crash, the media has had as a focus  - Media analyses have had as a focus, not the media itself. Slightly changes the meaning 
(C) Analyses of the recent stock market crash by the media has been focus on  - Doesn't agree in number. Analyses... has been 
(D) In analyzing stock market crash, the media have focused on  - Doesn't agree in number. media... have 
(E) In their analysis of stock market crash, the media has been focusing on  - Media analyses have had as a focus, not the media itself. Slightly changes the meaning

Experts, please advice!

nusmavrik · Answer

No doubt  media   is plural.

nusmavrik · Answer

Pls report.   analyses    ----> this is wrong. You are trying to confuse people with this word.

analysis is correct.

achiever01 · Answer

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analyses

analyses is the plural of analysis and is a valid word. Refer above link

sjayasa · Answer

nusmavrik:

I believe the plural form of analysis is analyses and I also believe Media is Singular (on the GMAT). I could be wrong. Also, no one is trying to confuse anyone. If you think there is a problem with the question or the explanation, let us wait for some clarity.

nusmavrik · Answer

Ok Thanks.

Now between A and D.

Hard to decide....... I am waiting for someone to answer.

Thanks for bringing this up.

sjayasa · Answer

achiever01:
Do you have the OA and the source of this question?

beraterschwein · Answer

Media is Plural - compare with the second part of the sentence: "they HAVE generally overlooked"

Therefore D: the media HAVE focused

Even if it sounds awkward.

OA?

achiever01 · Answer

Thanks all for discussing this.

OA is B.

here's my take:

Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus  the short term risks and volatility of technology stocks, but  they have generally overlooked  some of the serious flaws in the banking structure, clearance and settling issues.

(A) Media analyses of stock market crash  have  had as a focus
(B) Analyzing the recent stock market crash, the media has had as a focus
(C) Analyses of the recent stock market crash by the media  has been focus on 
(D) In analyzing stock market crash, the media  have  focused on
(E) In  their  analysis of stock market crash, the media has been focusing on

Collective nouns usually take singular verb but they may take plural verb also, based on the usage. I think here 'media' should take a singular verb. Please correct me if i am wrong. If 'media' takes a singular verb then 'B' looks best.

But as some have pointed out " they  have generally overlooked" ... does that fit in?

nusmavrik · Answer

I am sure OA is wrong.

Here is B -
Analyzing the recent stock market crash, the  media has  had as a focus the short term risks and volatility of technology stocks, but  they   have generally overlooked some of the serious flaws in the banking structure, clearance and settling issues.

media cannot be both singular and plural in the same sentence.

gmatjon · Answer

Definitely something is wrong with OA. Media is always singular in GMAT. And the second part of the sentence uses they, thus implying that A needs to be the correct choice.

mailnavin1 · Answer

The qstn of media being singular or plural - media can be singular or plural, its a collective noun. Media - can be the collective term for News company X, News company Y, and News company Z, each had overlooked and each had focused.

As the second part reinforces media as a plural form. Hence I take the mentioned media to be a plural where each element is stressed.

The ans should be D

In analyzing stock market crash, the media   have focused   on the short term risks and volatility of technology stocks, but they   have   generally   overlooked   some of the serious flaws in the banking structure, clearance and settling issues.

nusmavrik · Answer

Cheers <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8-)" title="Cool" />

seekmba · Answer

D is best.

"they" refers to media. and is also parallel with "have focused" and "have overlooked"

oldguru82 · Answer

OA is D....
I just got this question in GMAT Prep2 and OA is D, so  media  is plural.

Media analyses of stock market crash have had as a focus the

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