Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of

Question

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals,  Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.
 
(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.
 
(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights.
 
(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

Verbal Question of The Day: Day 26: Sentence Correction 
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GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

The first thing that jumps out at me here is the "-ing" modifier at the beginning of the sentence. The underlined portion has to begin with somebody who can actually speak, like Adam Silver...

This looks fine in terms of the "-ing" modifier. "Number of games" is fine, too. It's just that the parallelism is weird: "... the six months of games that have been planned... and that the league could reduce the number of games." Huh? Sure, I suppose the two "thats" are sort of parallel structurally, but they also make absolutely no sense as two parts of a list. Eliminate (A).

This one is a pretty easy elimination: "speaking" can't modify "the idea." Also, "amount" can only be used to modify non-countable nouns. Eliminate (B).

"Amount" is the only real problem here. Eliminate (C).

This is a similar error as in (B): "speaking" can't modify "the expansion", because expansions can't speak. Also a little bit weird to say "reduce the games played" -- I think we're trying to reduce the number of games, not the actual games themselves.

This one looks fine, I guess. There's no problem with the "-ing" modifier anymore, and "number of games" is correct. (E) is the answer.

Jk8269 · Answer

I guess answer is E.
It's better to keep the appositive phrase the league's commissioner before the subject Adam silver so as to keep the subject close to the modifiers that follow. Also the clause "Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding.............." is not parallel to "and that the league could reduce the number of games teams .........."
So Option A is incorrect.
Choice B is making the sentence wordy and passive,nonparallel too.
Choice C is wrong due to the usage of amount for a countable games
Choice D repeats errors as in B
Choice E is apparently a better choice.

Experts please correct if I am wrong.

Please Give me + 1 kudos if my post is valuable to you

Leo8 · Answer

Speaking   to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals, 
  Adam   Silver, the league's commissioner, 
  rejected   the idea of expanding 
 the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of  games  
   that have  been planned for the 2017-18 season 
  and that the league  could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

well the modifier "speaking" needs an actor which must be the subject of the main clause, Speaking is done by Adam Silver and main verb rejected should be the action of the actor which is Adam Silver in our case. So far so good. but we see a "that" "that" clause, which indicates parallel structure , but there is none in our case.

Instead the question is showing a contrast, Adam rejected a proposal but agreed on lesser terms which is reducing the number of games

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the  amount  of games teams play on consecutive nights. games can be counted so we need "number"

(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights.  the expansion can't speak
 
(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

so we are left E.

sonikavadhera · Answer

My answer is E.
B and D are rejected due to modifier error.
A does not have continuity - C and E are better due to use of but.
games is countable hence number will be used.
Therefore OA should be E.

nikhilpoddar · Answer

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals, Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights. - - Countable Noun - Reject

(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could  reduce the games  played by teams on consecutive nights. How to reduce the games ???

(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights. - Correct

Luckisnoexcuse · Answer

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals,  Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights....no reference to pronoun
 
(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.....amount of games incorrect
 
(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights....no reference to pronoun
 
(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights....Correct

broall · Answer

Only Adam Silver could speak to the media, so A, C, E are left.

In A, structure "Adam Silver rejected ... and that the league could ..." is awkward.

The difference between C and E is "amount" vs "number". "amount" is used for uncountable nouns, and "number" is used for countable nouns. So E is left as the correct answer.

sobby · Answer

E it is ..
B and D are out ..modifier error
C is out ---amount of games
second "that" does not make sense
E -- it is ...

spetznaz · Answer

The answer has to be option E. My take :

Meaning - Adam silver , the league commissioner spoke to the media. He rejected the idea of expanding regular-season schedule beyond six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season. He however also suggested that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

Error analysis - Parallelism error. Rejected and could ... parallelism missing.

POE -

Option A - Wrong for the reason above.
Option B - The idea is not speaking ... so modifier error.
Option C - amount of games is wrong here. 
Option D - the expansion of regular ... is not speaking modifier error
Option E - correct.

The answer must be option E.

Skywalker18 · Answer

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals,  Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights. - Modifier issue - the idea did not speak ; the amount is incorrect since games is countable
 
(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights. - the amount is incorrect since games is countable
 
(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights. - Modifier issue - the expansion did not speak 
 
(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights. - Correct

Answer E

plasticplastic · Answer

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Finals,  Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(A) Adam Silver, the league's commissioner, rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season and that the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.
(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the number of games teams play on consecutive nights.

(B) the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the amount of games teams play on consecutive nights.
(D) the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver, but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights.

(C) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the  amount  of games teams play on consecutive nights.  - this looks pretty good but suspect of "amount"... keep for now.

(D)  the expansion of the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games planned for the 2017-18 season was rejected by league commissioner Adam Silver,  but he said the league could reduce the games played by teams on consecutive nights. -  same modifier issue as B

(E) league commissioner Adam Silver rejected the idea of expanding the regular-season schedule beyond the six months of games that have been planned for the 2017-18 season but said the league could reduce the  number  of games teams play on consecutive nights. -  E fixes the "amount" issue in C,
 so get rid of C and E is our right answer!

Manishcfc8 · Answer

E is the answer.

Incorrect Noun modifier usage eliminates A, B and D
amount of games is incorrect.
Number of games is the correct usage.

rashwiniyer · Answer

In option E, shouldn't there be a 'that' after 'said' ? Or we chose E because that's the best among the worst? Please explain.

Posted from my mobile device

siaguirr · Answer

The possessive “...the league's commissioner...” in A is ok? We should avoid to use possessives of inanimate objects?

Posted from my mobile device

AjiteshArun · Answer

No, there is no reason to do that. For example, saying "the car ' s..." or the "the table ' s..." is fine.

GMATNinja · Answer

In option E, "that" (after "said") is implied.  This post  explains each answer choice, so see if that helps!

rashwiniyer · Answer

----

Thanks. But what I have understood in my studies - 
He said "I am a great player" ---So here 'that' is not required because the statement is conveying what exactly was said by someone.
He said that he is a great player --Here 'that' is must

Am I wrong in my understanding? Can you please explain and correct if my understanding is wrong. With this understanding only I couldn't chose the right answer.

XyLan · Answer

rashwiniyer , What you have quoted is  perfectly alright  in colloquial English.
However, the difference arises because of how GMAT considers the usage of   'that'   while using it in reporting verbs.

To quote Manhattan-SC (  I have added the reference so that you can verify it: Page 217, Chapter 11  ) - 
 The GMAT  asserts    that   the Reporting verbs take   'that'   whenever you follow them with a clause (a thought expressed in its own mini sentences). - Notice, how   that   is used after the reporting verb  asserts .

Reporting verbs: Agree, Asserts, Claim, Contend, Declare, etc.
 Ex: The scientists CLAIMED that they would found isotopes of Carbon in the Graphene chain.   Claim - Reporting verb   
However, the main exception to this pattern is the verb:   Say  .
 Ex: The water was so cold that people SAID polar bears would shiver.

TakeAway:  
 This usage is a preference, NOT a rule.
ALWAYS Focus on finding  concrete errors  such as SV-disagreement, Modifier-issue, etc.
The rhetoric aspect MUST be the last decision point in GMAT-SC.

TheNightKing · Answer

Someone is speaking to the media. I hope that he or she is a human being

Unfortunately the idea or the expansion cannot speak to the media. I mean something can speak to you hypothetically (the idea of meditation may be) but that is not the case here. So we get rid of B and D in one stroke. Note: If you eliminated B and D based on my above mentioned approach, don't be too lazy to just read the word "league" and eliminate these two. These two actually say "league commissioner" so we are good there. The difference between C and E is the amount of games vs the number of games. And we know we can count the number of games. So we prefer the number of games over the amount of games. So we eliminate D. Let's compare A and E. Meaning comes into play now. The league commissioner did not reject the idea that the league could reduce the number of games teams play rather the league commissioner suggested that as an alternative (sort of). So we prefer E over A in this case. You can also claim that A is creating false Parallelism. I hope you liked my approach. Thank you if you read it all the way!

Speaking to the media at his annual news conference before Game 1 of

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