Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth

THE PROMPT


THE OPTIONS

• many is used for countable nouns whereas much is used for uncountable nouns
→ experiments are countable. Much should be many.
ELIMINATE A


• same problem as that in option A: much should be many because experiments are countable
• strategy pick: you have no way to distinguish between options A and B. The verbs in both are correct. Because both cannot be correct, neither can be correct.
ELIMINATE B


• the plural subject experiments does not agree with the singular verb is
ELIMINATE C


• I do not see any issues
→ many is correctly paired with the countable noun experiments
→ plural subject experiments agrees with plural verb are
KEEP


• illogical and nonsensical: Many of the experiments . . . designed to test . . .
→ experiments themselves do not design anything
→ in this case, to make the sentence, we need the passive construction: Many of the experiments . . . [are] designed to test . . .
ELIMINATE E

The answer is D.

Comments

iamsachinrawat , welcome to SC Butler.

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You are all showing up for yourselves. And your peers. And future aspirants.

The answers range from very good to outstanding.
Nicely done.

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.

Many- Countable noun, Much-uncountable noun.

A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed -> Incorrect. Experiments are countable noun. So, "much" is incorrect here.

B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are -> Incorrect. Experiments are countable noun. So, "much" is incorrect here.

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed -> We have "many" (plural subject) then "is" (singular verb) is incorrect. Subject verb agreement error.

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed -> It is better. "Many of the experiments performed....are designed to... " Let's keep it.

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed -> "that are...." do we need it. and "Many of the experiments are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed to..." it is incorrect. we need a verb "are" before designed.

So, I think D.

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.

Pre-thinking: Usage of 'much' v/s 'many'. 'many' is used to modify something that can be counted. 'much' is used when you're modifying something that can't be counted

A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed
Usage of 'much' v/s 'many'

B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are
Usage of 'much' v/s 'many'

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed
Subject-verb agreement error. Plural subject 'experiments' requires plural verb 'are'

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed
Many is correctly used. Subject-verb agreement is correct.

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed
Missing 'that are' before designed.

IMO Answer should be D.
_________________

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed[/u] to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.


A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed
Experiments are countable quantity. Much is not appropriate. Eliminate it....no furhter analysis.

B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are
Experiments are countable quantity. Much is not appropriate. Eliminate it....no furhter analysis.

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed
Subject-verb error

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed
Subject (Many of the experiments) & verb (performed)? error in sentence structure

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed
Highlighted part modifies subject (Many of the experiment).
Subject (Many of the experiments) & verb (designed) correctly reflects meaning

IMO E
_________________

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.


A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed
uncountable noun whereas experiments are countable.

B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are
same error as A.

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed subject is
experiment is plural so are should be used instead

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed
all ok.

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed
awkward meaning.

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.


A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed
The use of 'Much' is incorrect since 'experiments' is a countable noun.

B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are
The use of 'Much' is incorrect since 'experiments' is a countable noun.

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed
'Many' is plural. SV error 'many ... is'.. out.

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed
Nothing is wrong with this choice.

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed
This is a fragment. 'Many ... designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.'
'designed to test..' is modifying 'many of the experiments'. Out.

Options A and B are out as "much" is used for non-countable items,

I have to admit option C is hilarious and its out, they have used "many" which is plural and then used "is".

Option E is out as it is an awkward construct.

The OA is D.

Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed to test how much babies and young children understand about the world around them.

The first split here is Many v/s Much
Much is uncountable noun and Many is countable noun.
We can count experiments : 1 experiment, 2 experiments.....
Therefore we should use Many and eliminate any choice using Much

A) Much of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke have been designed
B) Much of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs are
Both options use Much and therefore can be eliminated

C) many of the experiments that cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke performs is designed
Many is plural form so we should plural verb . Here is is used before designed and that is singular. Eliminate

D) Many of the experiments performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke are designed
Correct usage of Many
Correct Usage of Subject and Verb
Meaning clear

E) Many of the experiments that are performed by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Spelke designed
This is run-on.
Before designed we need are to highlight why are these experiments performed. This option is not highlighting that. Eliminate

Therefore D

The official explanation is here.