One of the most pressing concerns facing lawyers who have just graduat

Correct option C

The amount of : Uncountable Nouns
The Number of : Countable Nouns

Fellow Graduates - Countable Noun
Job Openings - Countable Noun

A) is the amount of fellow graduates who currently outnumber the amount of available job openings.

B) is the amount of fellow graduates that currently outnumbers the amount of available job openings.

C) is the number of fellow graduates that currently exceeds the number of job openings.

D) is the number of fellow graduates who currently exceed the number of available job openings.

E) is the number of fellow graduates that currently exceed a number of job openings.

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My answer is (C). It took me 38 seconds.

Because “fellow graduates“ is countable noun, "the number of" should be used. Eliminate (AB) because both uses "the amount of".

The relative clause after "the number of fellow graduates" can modify either "graduates" or "the number". Because it is to be compared with "the number of job openings", the reasonable precedent is "the number". Eliminate (D) as it modifies "graduates".

Between (C) and (E), reject (E) because "that = the number" does not agree with "exceed" in the number.

One of the most pressing concerns facing lawyers who have just graduated from law school is the amount of fellow graduates who currently outnumber the amount of available job openings.
Here the comparison is between numbers( # of lawyers vs # of job openings). Amount is used when we cannot count. Number usage is appropriate here, as it is countable.

A) is the amount of fellow graduates who currently outnumber the amount of available job openings.
As per analysis, amount usage is incorrect here. Also 'who' refers to the subject amount here, not fellow graduates. Eliminate


B) is the amount of fellow graduates that currently outnumbers the amount of available job openings.
It corrects the subject reference error using 'that' but continues to have error with 'amount' usage. Eliminate.

C) is the number of fellow graduates that currently exceeds the number of job openings.
This is the correct choice C, as it eliminates all the errors. Keep.

D) is the number of fellow graduates who currently exceed the number of available job openings.
'who' refers to the subject number here, not fellow graduates. Eliminate


E) is the number of fellow graduates that currently exceed a number of job openings.
Article usage 'a' number, is different from 'the' number. Eliminate

IMO the correct option should be C.


1. Amount or number-can't be compared to number which eliminates option A and B.
2. Who or that....the number is referred or compared with number of job openings, not the graduates, thus that should be used which eliminates option D
3. Exceed or exceeds.... If something is explained with 'number of', it is treated as singular, thus exceeds should be the correct veb form.

Bunuel

IMO we can add "Comparisons" tag to this question because "number of fellow graduates" are being compared with "number of job openings".