GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: Chia seeds, small oval seeds whose source is the

Question

Chia seeds, small oval seeds whose source is the plant Salvia hispanica, native to southern and central Mexico,  contains fewer omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for  treating depression.
 
A. contains fewer omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for
B. contain less omega-6 fatty acids than those found in hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for
C. contain fewer omega-6 fatty acids than do hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for 
D. are the source of fewer omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for
E. is the source of less omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Explanation 
 
 We’ll go for PRECISE because there is a simple grammatical rule we can use.

The subject of the sentence is chia seeds, which is plural, so the verb must match it—contain, not contains. Of the three answers in which the verb matches the subject, two have other mistakes: (B) uses less, a quantifier used for uncountable nouns, to describe a countable noun—acids, and (D) makes an illogical comparison, which suggests that chia seeds contain hemp seeds. The answer is therefore (C).

We’ll go for LOGICAL because we can correct the wrong illogical comparison.

The construction of the comparison made in the original sentence makes it sound as if chia seeds contain hemp seeds (because it says fewer acids than hemp seeds), but one kind of seed cannot contain another kind. Answer choices (D) and (E) make the same faulty comparison. Answer choice (B) gets the comparison (... than those found in hemp seeds) right but contains a new mistake: it uses less, a quantifier used for non-count nouns, to describe the countable noun acids. The answer is therefore (C).

chrisjonatan · Answer

A. contains fewer omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for
 incorrect, the subject is singular.

B. contain  less omega-6 fatty acids  than those found in hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for
 "omega-6 fatty acids" is countable. incorrect

C. contain fewer omega-6 fatty acids than do hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for
 Correct. The subject is plural, omega-6 fatty acids is countable, the comparison is parallel

D. are  the source of fewer omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds  and more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for
 The comparison is not parallel. incorrect

E. is the source of less omega-6 fatty acids than hemp seeds and more omega-3 fatty acids, known for
 Subject is singular. incorrect

Lizaza · Answer

Acids are countable, so instead of less we need fewer. Eliminate B and E. 
The subject, which is SEEDS, is plural, so eliminate A with 'contains'. 
Finally, between C and D we eliminate D, because it doesn't have a verb after the comparison (are the source of ..... than hemp seeds ARE) and also D is wordier. 
Therefore,  C is correct.

Namangupta1997 · Answer

Hi  Lizaza

Can you elaborate how are acids countable ? If we try and count them, " 1 acids, 2 acids, 3 acids......" , it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Lizaza · Answer

Hi there! Well, I just mean that in the English language the word acid is countable. Yes, one acid, two acids, just like that

Namangupta1997 · Answer

I get what you mean, but I believe "the acids " found in seeds is not a physically countable thing. We can't say a particular type of seed contains , for example 3 omega acids. Sounds non-sensical. Maybe I am missing something.

Carcass · Answer

The word acid is per se UNcountable. Like water. Water is UNcountable. However, countable is "Can I have please a glass of water? or a tank? then is countable

Another example: if I say" Tomorrow I am going to have my workout into the gym and I will take, to have more strength, my amino-acids (in terms of pills or capsules) then is countable.

In the end, acid countable does not have any sense!

Hope this helps

avinashiitp · Answer

There is a parallelism error in c. But all other options also have issues.

Posted from my mobile device

Beingstoic · Answer

Notice the word 'fatty Acids'.

Because of 'Acids' and not 'acid', we know it is not a single acid but rather a class of acids.
class of = number of. Therefore, it is countable.

wickedvikram · Answer

Hi Naman There is a simple rule, things which are in plural are always considered countable. GMAT uses this rule, you might find some questions in OG as well. Refer to this link: https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-report-by- ... 47018.html

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

How are we saying that acids are countable?

VerbalBot · Answer

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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: Chia seeds, small oval seeds whose source is the

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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: Chia seeds, small oval seeds whose source is the

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