Last visit was: 18 Jun 2025, 01:01 It is currently 18 Jun 2025, 01:01
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
souvik101990
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Last visit: 17 Jan 2025
Posts: 4,321
Own Kudos:
52,682
 [36]
Given Kudos: 2,326
Location: United States (WA)
Concentration: Leadership, General Management
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
Posts: 4,321
Kudos: 52,682
 [36]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
29
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
mikemcgarry
User avatar
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Last visit: 06 Aug 2018
Posts: 4,480
Own Kudos:
30,018
 [12]
Given Kudos: 130
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,480
Kudos: 30,018
 [12]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Cadaver
Joined: 03 Oct 2014
Last visit: 09 Oct 2018
Posts: 114
Own Kudos:
100
 [7]
Given Kudos: 89
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Technology
GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V40
WE:Engineering (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V40
Posts: 114
Kudos: 100
 [7]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
narmadadhruv
Joined: 30 May 2015
Last visit: 09 Jun 2017
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
46
 [4]
Given Kudos: 28
WE:Analyst (Internet and New Media)
Posts: 34
Kudos: 46
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

A. their treacherous seas—less than that=>wrongly refers to shipwrecks; should be its

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that=>there should be a hyphen here

C. its treacherous seas, which is less than those=>wrongly refers to seas

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been=>sounds good

E. their treacherous seas, fewer than the ones=>their wrongly refers to ship-wrecks; should be its

Rgds.
User avatar
Nevernevergiveup
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 18 Sep 2014
Last visit: 20 Aug 2023
Posts: 1,009
Own Kudos:
2,939
 [1]
Given Kudos: 79
Location: India
Products:
Posts: 1,009
Kudos: 2,939
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

A. their treacherous seas—less than that

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that

C. its treacherous seas, which is less than those

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been

E. their treacherous seas, fewer than the ones

Since Alaska is a region, singular verb it is needed. not plural verb their.
In option C, Which wrongly refers to modifies to treacherous seas(plural subject).
Between B and D, I picked up B as i felt that a number would refer to 35 shipwrecks.......i.e., subject of the sentence.

but I'm still confused between B and D.

Eagerly waiting for OA and explanation.
User avatar
Skywalker18
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Last visit: 15 Nov 2023
Posts: 2,053
Own Kudos:
9,626
 [1]
Given Kudos: 171
Status:Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GPA: 3.2
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
Posts: 2,053
Kudos: 9,626
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja , EMPOWERgmatRichC , sayantanc2k , daagh ,mikemcgarry , other experts -
I am stuck between options B and D. In B doesn't "a number fewer than that" modify thirty-five?

What is the use of Dash?
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 17 Jun 2025
Posts: 7,331
Own Kudos:
68,265
 [4]
Given Kudos: 1,947
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,331
Kudos: 68,265
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mikemcgarry
I will remind you that the GMAT SC absolutely does not test punctuation. If you read sophisticated writing, you will develop intuition for the dash, but this is more than you need to know for the GMAT.

I can't even begin to express how enthusiastically I agree with mikemcgarry here. Some people make their living as "style experts", debating the nuances of English grammar and usage and punctuation -- and those guys can't even agree on how to use dashes or commas. And the GMAT wisely goes out of its way NOT to test you on punctuation, other than some very basic stuff on semicolon usage.

So what should you do whenever you see a dash on the GMAT? Look for other issues. There are exactly zero official GMAT questions that test your understanding of how to use dashes. So don't worry about them! :-D
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 18 June 2025
Posts: 1,442
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,001
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,442
Kudos: 1,806
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
[quote="souvik101990"]

Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

Region "singular" So we need singular pronoun "its". Eliminate A and E.

B. Appositive "a number..." wrongly modifying "treacherous seas" instead of modifying "35 shipwrecks". Eliminate B.

C. "which" is wrongly modifying "treacherous seas". Eliminate.

D. Correct.

A. their treacherous seas—less than that

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that

C. its treacherous seas, which is less than those

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been

E. their treacherous seas, fewer than the ones
avatar
thereisaFire
Joined: 04 Jun 2020
Last visit: 12 Aug 2022
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 209
Location: India
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Posts: 72
Kudos: 14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been

Hi AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma

I chose choice B over choice D

Choice B: "a number fewer than that(number) recorded off the coast of Massachusetts" refers to "thirty-five shipwrecks". And "that" refers to "number"

Choice D: I eliminated this choice as I could not figure out what type of modifier is "fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts". Is it a noun modifier? I don't see any noun/relative pronoun.

Mr. X, who is the most experienced member, is responsible for what has happened to the club.
Here "who" is the noun modifier that modifies Mr. X
(I was looking for a similar analogy in choice D, but did not find anything)

Please explain.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 17 Jun 2025
Posts: 16,055
Own Kudos:
73,749
 [4]
Given Kudos: 472
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,055
Kudos: 73,749
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
thereisaFire
Quote:
Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been

Hi AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma

I chose choice B over choice D

Choice B: "a number fewer than that(number) recorded off the coast of Massachusetts" refers to "thirty-five shipwrecks". And "that" refers to "number"

Choice D: I eliminated this choice as I could not figure out what type of modifier is "fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts". Is it a noun modifier? I don't see any noun/relative pronoun.

Mr. X, who is the most experienced member, is responsible for what has happened to the club.
Here "who" is the noun modifier that modifies Mr. X
(I was looking for a similar analogy in choice D, but did not find anything)

Please explain.

Option (B) basic structure:
...approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, ..., a number fewer than that recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

"a number" seems to be renaming "35" but it is too far from 35.
Also, a number is greater than or less than another number. A number is not fewer than or more than another number.
We say "35 is less than 50", not "35 is fewer than 50".
So (B) is not correct.


Option (D) basic structure:
...approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, ..., fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

Here we are comparing how many shipwrecks were recorded.
Alaska recorded 35 ship wrecks. Coast of M recorded fewer shipwrecks.

So (D) is correct.
avatar
thereisaFire
Joined: 04 Jun 2020
Last visit: 12 Aug 2022
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 209
Location: India
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Posts: 72
Kudos: 14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasKarishma
thereisaFire
Quote:
Since 1868, approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, a region known for their treacherous seas—less than those recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

B. its treacherous seas, a number fewer than that

D. its treacherous seas—fewer than have been

Hi AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma

I chose choice B over choice D

Choice B: "a number fewer than that(number) recorded off the coast of Massachusetts" refers to "thirty-five shipwrecks". And "that" refers to "number"

Choice D: I eliminated this choice as I could not figure out what type of modifier is "fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts". Is it a noun modifier? I don't see any noun/relative pronoun.

Mr. X, who is the most experienced member, is responsible for what has happened to the club.
Here "who" is the noun modifier that modifies Mr. X
(I was looking for a similar analogy in choice D, but did not find anything)

Please explain.

Option (B) basic structure:
...approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, ..., a number fewer than that recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

"a number" seems to be renaming "35" but it is too far from 35.
Also, a number is greater than or less than another number. A number is not fewer than or more than another number.
We say "35 is less than 50", not "35 is fewer than 50".
So (B) is not correct.


Option (D) basic structure:
...approximately thirty-five shipwrecks have been recorded off Alaska, ..., fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts.

Here we are comparing how many shipwrecks were recorded.
Alaska recorded 35 ship wrecks. Coast of M recorded fewer shipwrecks.

So (D) is correct.

Thanks for elaborating.

I understood the error in choice B and the comparison present in choice D.

However, in choice D, since the phrase "fewer than have been recorded off the coast of Massachusetts" is presented as a modifier (modifying 35 shipwrecks), I would like to understand the type of modifier "fewer than" is here.

I actually eliminated this choice thinking of a modifier error as I supposed that this modifier "fewer than" is not clear enough to refer to "35 shipwrecks" and convey the intended meaning.

Can you please explain with some examples.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,398
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,398
Kudos: 946
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7331 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts