Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION




• Split #1: MANY vs. MUCH

Errors are countable.
We use many with countable nouns: Many bodies of water are landlocked.
We use much with uncountable nouns: Much of the water is drinkable.
Options A and B incorrectly use much to describe errors.
ELIMINATE A and B

• Split #2: SUBJECT/VERB agreement

Many is a plural quantifier (also called a "determiner") on the GMAT and in 99 percent of all writing.
Correct: Many . . . errors . . . are
Option E incorrectly states: . . . many . . . errors . . . is

(Many is singular when followed by an indefinite article and a singular noun:
Many a man has been captivated by her smile. → That usage is literary, somewhat archaic, and rare.)

ELIMINATE E

• Split #3: Option C v. D

→ → failure to verify in (D) is better than failure of verifying in (C)

All native speakers should cringe when they read failure of verifying.
The phrase is not idiomatic. In context, the phrase is a stylistic disaster.
The noun is an awkward gerund (verbING), but even the dedicated noun (failure of verification) would not be good.

Failure to X is more active and forceful than failure of Xing.

Usage
To describe something that should have been done but was not, use failure to verb.
→ Her failure to comply with the dress code was predictable.
(Not Her failure of compliance/complying with the dress code...)
→ The elected officials' failure to uphold the Constitution will come back to haunt them politically.
(Not The officials failure of upholding the Constitution...)
→ My failure to read the instructions resulted in a hot mess.
(Not My failure of reading the instructions...)

To describe a missing noun or the lack of a noun, use failure of noun.
→ The delay in vaccine distribution was caused by a failure of leadership.
→ Ridiculous and disproven conspiracy theories display not overactive imagination but rather failure of imagination.

Option D is better than option C.
ELIMINATE C

The best answer is D.

Notes
→ I would not eliminate C because it uses "the more glaring errors," although I would let it "tilt" the balance for me towards D.

When more is used with the and a descriptor, the phrase itself implies two groups (and perhaps two groupings on a spectrum).
→ The more experienced soldiers planned the escape.
(The less experienced soldiers did not plan the escape.)
→ More educated citizens tend to skew polls because they answer such polls frequently [whereas less educated citizens answer polls less frequently].

"The more glaring" implicitly creates two groups of errors: those that are more and less glaring.
The construction is not wrong, but I recall having seen only one or two official questions in which "the more _____" was used this way.

Google these words with the quotation marks and scroll down to the "regular" sections:
"the more experienced" new york times

EDIT: "contained" is a past participle, not a simple past tense verb.
Contained is part of a reduced relative clause, this way: . . . many of the errors [that are/were] contained in the report [can/could] be attributed to a simple failure to verify ...

COMMENTS

AnkitHRD , sudeshpatodiya , and chiragarora001 , welcome to SC Butler.

I'm a little under the weather, so I'll keep this short.

I'm glad to have such a diverse crew. It's always good to see newcomers, occasional visitors, veterans, and stalwarts.

These answers range from very good to excellent. Kudos to all.

IMO D, error is countable so we should use many instead of much.

A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Incorrect

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Incorrect

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying Incorrect, 'many of the most' is correct comparison and not 'many of the more'.

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Correct

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify Incorrect, we don't need is attributable here.

Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify the accuracy of the source data.


A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify

My answer is (D). It took me 37 seconds.

Because "errors" are countable noun, option A and B, which uses "much of the errors", can be eliminated.

Because subject "many" is plural, option E, which uses "is attributable", can be eliminated.

To choose between (C) and (D), we have to know that "failure to do something" is idiomatic. Also, a general rule is to prefer a verb (verify) to a noun / gerund (verification or verifying).

IMO D - took me around 50 Sec.

Some basic Idiomatic errors in each sentence---- will highlight the same in bold - ABC straight up eliminated.

A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - This is our answer.

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify - Singular plural issue here ... Errors is plural and "is" is singular

IMO D.

IMO D

Key takeaways:
Many = is used for referencing quantified/countable nouns ; A & B drop
much = is used for referencing uncoutable nouns. eg: too much water.

More = is used for comparision. He is more taller than X ; Not correct usage - many of the more; drop C

Now. D & E are almost same with few differences:
D. could be attributed
E. is attributable

Here, errors - Subject ( plural ). Therefore, "is" in E is wrong.

Ans D

It's better to eliminate here.

A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
Errors are countable nouns. MUCH is incorrect.
B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
Errors are countable nouns. MUCH is incorrect.
C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying
More is used for comparisons. The modifier "more glaring" requires "than"
D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
Correct. Attributed TO - is correct prepositional phrase.
E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify
S-V disagreement . Errors (plural) IS -incorrect.

D

1) errors is countable so we need many and not much
2) Per the meaning, We are talking about the Superlative form. Superlative form of many/much is Most


A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Wrong because of point 1

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - Wrong because of point 1 and 2

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying Wrong because of point 2

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - Correct

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify Wrong. Errors require are

Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify the accuracy of the source data.


A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify-> "much of the most glaring errors" is incorrect. "Many" describes the countable noun.

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify-> Same error A.

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying-> "Can be" is incorrect. We are in past tense.

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify-> It is better. Tense and "Many" error is corrected. Let's keep it.

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify-> "is" is incorrect. "could" is making sense.

So, I think D.

Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify the accuracy of the source data.


A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Incorrect

much is wrong with countable errors

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Incorrect

much is wrong with countable errors

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying Incorrect

more changes meaning
of verifying uses wrong

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify Correct

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify Incorrect

is attributable uses wrong
_________________

A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - Incorrect

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - Incorrect

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying- Incorrect

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify - Correct (many of the most is correct comparison)

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify-Incorrect

Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify the accuracy of the source data.

A) Surprisingly, much of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
errors are countable. Use of 'much' is incorrect.

B) Surprisingly, much of the more glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
errors are countable. Use of 'much' is incorrect.

C) Surprisingly, many of the more glaring errors contained in the report can be attributed to a simple failure of verifying
'many of the more errors' is incorrect.

D) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report could be attributed to a simple failure to verify
Correct

E) Surprisingly, many of the most glaring errors contained in the report is attributable to a simple failure to verify
'errors is' is incorrect. Subject and verb do not agree.

Choice D is the answer.

Errors can be counted so we should use many and not much as much is used when we are using uncountable noun in a sentence.Eliminate

1. 'Many of the more' is awkward construct.
2. 'Failure of verifying' is incorrect. Failure to verify should be the right construct.

This is correct.

S-V Agreement error. 'Many' is plural so the verb should be plural. Eliminate

D is our answer

Options A and B are out because they have used "much" which is generally used when we are talking about uncountable nouns.

Option C is out as "many of the more" is an incorrect and awkward construct.

Options E is out due to the classic Subject-verb error where the subject of the sentence is "errors" and the verb used is the auxiliary verb "is".

Therefore, the answer is D.

The official explanation is here.
_________________

The answer is D

My take:-

The Errors are related to countable nouns, So, should use "many" and not "much"
........A, B out
Now the second degree of adverb more is never preceded with "the". it is the superlative degree that needs "the" i.e. the most
.........C out

Now "Many of the errors" should have plural verb
i.e. Many of the errors........is attributable...........is wrong
E out

That leaves us only with D.

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