Approximately one of four children are now born to mothers without

Question

Approximately one  of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born  six years ago.

(A) of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born 
(B) of four children is now born to a mother who is single, compared to just one of ten children who were born 
(C) child in four are now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten 
(D) child in four is now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten
(E) child in four is now born to a single mother, compared with just one in ten

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PyjamaScientist · Accepted Answer

(E)  . Time taken: 01:23

Splits used:  
  1.  "compared with" vs "compared to"  
2.  one of four  is/are   
3.  single mothers/mother

* Though archaic, "compared with" is used when "similar things are compared" and "compared to" is used "dissimilar things are compared". So, on that basis alone we can get rid of (B)/(C) and (D). But, since GMAC does not test idioms these days. Lets eliminate choices using other errors and not this idiomatic usage error and see if we get any success.

* One of four refers to a single child, so there's a Subject-verb disagreement error in choices (A) and (C).

* Between, (B) and (E), "of four children is now born to a mother who is single" in (B) is inferior to (E) for (E) uses simple and short "a single mother" instead of unnecessarily wrong "a mother who is single".

* Between (E) and (D), (D) twists the meaning by using "single mothers". Because now the sentence means, "One child out of four is born to single mothers." As if many ladies collectively gave birth to a single child. Though this narrative suits for the stories of witchcraft and mysticism. I am pretty sure that the author is not one JK Rowling.

So,   (E)   comes out as the winner and the correct choice in my opinion.

winterschool · Answer

Approximately one of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born six years ago.

(A) of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born
(B) of four children is now born to a mother who is single, compared to just one of ten children who were born
(C) child in four are now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten
(D) child in four is now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten
(E) child in four is now born to a single mother, compared with just one in ten

'one of four children' singular, so verb should be singular - A & C eliminate
 "single mothers " in D is wrong
E has redundant issue - a single mother; no need a or single; So answer B

gloomybison · Answer

PyjamaScientist 
TBH I am unsure of E as much as ı am unsure of B
Although B is unnecessarily long, doesn't E create an ambiguity by stating that "one in ten" to what does "one" refer mother or children? of course a logical reader can conclude that "one" refers to child but still...

PyjamaScientist · Answer

Hi  Gloomybison ,
I think you have answered your query yourself,  "a logical reader can conclude that "one" refers to child".

I can safely say that SC questions often lie between white and black. Our aim is not to find the absolute correct version of the sentence given rather the best among the five choices provided. So, if I am able to eliminate 4 choices on the basis of substantial reasons and the last one remaining looks the best, I go ahead make the choice.
 
Do I think that a question like this would appear in an official material now? Perhaps no! And the unofficial questions might have a niggle here and there. So,  (even Experts' global would agree on this) , it is better to practice only OG questions to avoid any doubts creeping in. Though from my experience, you might find some ambiguity even in the OG questions. But, they are well debated and you can learn so much even from those flawed official questions.

Happy to respond.

debjit1990 · Answer

Ans:E
(A) of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born..sv agreement issue
(B) of four children is now born to a mother who is single, compared to just one of ten children who were born..wordy
(C) child in four are now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten..sv agreement issue
(D) child in four is now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten...mothers is wrong here
(E) child in four is now born to a single mother, compared with just one in ten...correct

Sushil117 · Answer

(A) of four children are now born to mothers without a spouse, compared with just one of ten born
SVA error "is" should be used instead of "are"

(B) of four children is now born to a mother who is single, compared to just one of ten children who were born
in "one of ten children who were born" SVA error "were" should be "was".also, "compared to" is used for comparing dissimilar things
 
(C) child in four are now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten
SVA error same as A

(D) child in four is now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten
"compared to" error same as B . additionally 
"single mothers" distorts the meaning

(E) child in four is now born to a single mother, compared with just one in ten
so, E is the remaining .must be right

gandalfthegreat · Answer

PyjamaScientist , thanks for the detailed post! could you please explain what is the SV disagreement in Choices A and C?

PyjamaScientist · Answer

Hi  gandalfthegreat ,

Lets understand what  " subject-verb disagreement "  actually means. S-V error occurs when the " subject " does not make sense with its " verb ". For example:   I    loves   Bunuel.  GmatNinja   are  the best tutor.  Gandalf    are   a great magician.  I hope you can see the blatant S-V disagreement in these disgusting sentences.  (I almost slapped myself for writing these.)  The correct versions of the above incorrect sentences are:
  I    love   Bunuel.  GmatNinja    is   the best tutor.  Gandalf    is   a great magician. 
Now, lets see the  " subject-verb disagreement "  in (A) and (C). First lets ascertain what the subject is in (A) and (C). "  One    of four children" and "  One    child in four" both refer to a   "singular child"  , so we can be sure that it will take a   "singular verb"   such as,  is/has/loves/takes  etc.
With this is in mind. Let's highlight the subject and its verb in (A) and (C),
 (A)  One  of four children  are 
(C)  One  child in four  are   And I hope it's quite clear that the subject and the verb do not match here. And the correct versions of (A) and (C) are:  (A)  One  of four children  is 
(C)  One  child in four  is

I hope it helps. And thanks for thinking to ask. Good luck.

gandalfthegreat · Answer

PyjamaScientist , silly me for asking a basic grammar SVA question

Instantly regretted after hitting the submit button. Thank you very much for the explanation and your patience!

PyjamaScientist · Answer

1. No doubt is silly because that's how we learn stuff and solidify concepts.
2. And there's an option at the right bottom of your "just posted" comments to "delete". So, you can "delete the post" if you feel that it is no longer needed.

generis · Answer

gandalfthegreat  , you are gracious, as is  PyjamaScientist  (+1).

You are also curious and driven.
I am glad that you asked a question. Doing so is not silly. Doing so is brave. So +1 for you.
(If it makes you feel any better, as a 1L at HLS, I asked questions about seemingly "simple" things so often that my classmates were shocked when end-of-term grades came out and it was clear that I had more than mastered the material. I happily obliged their misperception for an entire semester—and simply grinned when my best friend leaked my grades to astonished peers.)

You've got this.
Remember that part.

Archit3110 · Answer

we have 2 /3 split of four vs in four
eliminate A,B
among CDE
since comparison is of like things so 'compared with' is correct idiom
option D 
  D) child in four is now born to single mothers, compared to just one in ten

Bunuel · Answer

Experts' Global Official Explanation:

Comparison + Subject-verb Agreement + Meaning + Idioms + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the sentence is that approximately one child in four is now born to a single mother, compared with just one child in ten (born to a single mother) six years ago.

• "compared with" is used for comparing similar things and "compared to" is used for comparing different things.

A. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “are” to refer to the singular noun phrase “one of four children”. Further, Option A alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “born to mothers”; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that one in four children is born to multiple mothers; the intended meaning is that approximately one child in four is now born to a single mother. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrases “one of four children” and “mothers without a spouse”, leading to awkwardness.

B. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “were” to refer to the singular noun phrase “one of ten children”. Further, Option B incorrectly uses “compared to” to compare two similar things, “one of four children” and “one of ten children”; please remember, "compared with" is used for comparing similar things, and "compared to" is used for comparing different things. Additionally, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrases “one of four children”, “a mother who is single” and “one of ten children”, leading to awkwardness.

C. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “are” to refer to the singular noun phrase “one child in four”. Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “born to single mothers”; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that one in four children is born to multiple mothers; the intended meaning is that approximately one child in four is now born to a single mother. Additionally, Option C incorrectly uses “compared to” to compare two similar things, “one child in four” and “one in ten”; please remember, "compared with" is used for comparing similar things, and "compared to" is used for comparing different things.

D. Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “born to single mothers”; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that one in four children is born to multiple mothers; the intended meaning is that approximately one child in four is now born to a single mother. Further, Option D incorrectly uses “compared to” to compare two similar things, “one child in four” and “one in ten”; please remember, "compared with" is used for comparing similar things, and "compared to" is used for comparing different things.

E. Correct.  This answer choice correctly uses the singular verb “is” to refer to the singular noun phrase “one child in four”. Further, Option E uses the phrase “born to a single mother”, conveying the intended meaning - that approximately one child in four is now born to a single mother. Additionally, Option E correctly uses “compared with” to compare two similar things, “one child in four” and “one in ten”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E is the best answer choice.

Bunuel · Answer

Experts' Global Video Explanation:

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VerbalBot · Answer

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Approximately one of four children are now born to mothers without

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