Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citize

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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Figures from 2011 indicate that  a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010.

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010.

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)

Quote:

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010.

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010.

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

• Concepts tested

(1) A number of / THE number of
→ a number of takes a plural verb.
A number of means several or some. The phrase is always paired with a plural count noun.

→ the number of takes a singular verb.
The number of is also always paired with a plural count noun and means "this specific statistic" or "this quantity" or "this particular number."

(2) IDIOM
Correct: about the same AS
Wrong: about the same THAN

• Split #1: logical meaning

Options A and B use the phrase "a number of."

The phrase a number of is illogical in this sentence.
A number of means some, several, or many.

Insert "some" for "a number of":
Figures from 2011 indicate that some unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.
→ Some unemployed Americans with a disability were about the same as in 2010?
I suppose you could argue that "were about the same" referred to a state of being, but the word "figures" indicates that we are talking about a quantity.

This sentence is illogical: A number of unemployed Americans with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

Eliminate A and B

• Split #2: subject/verb agreement

Option B incorrectly pairs a number of with the singular verb was.
Option D incorrectly pairs the number of with the plural verb were.

Eliminate D (option B is already gone)

• Split #3: Idiom

Options C and D incorrectly state about the same than.
The correct idiom is about the same as.

Alternatively, if ever you see the word than when two quantities are being compared, it must be coupled with greater / more or less / fewer.
The phrases same than or equal than are nonsensical.
Correct: greater than, more than, less than, fewer than
Wrong: same than, equal than

Eliminate C (option D is already gone)

The correct answer is E.

COMMENTS

ramlala , GyanaDash , KrissyB , and manvig , welcome to SC Butler.

I am always happy to see new people decide to post, and happy as well to see posts from my cherished frequent fliers and occasional visitors.

These explanations are outstanding.
Approaches vary and some posts contain lively prose; readers who follow will be lucky to have this thread.
Kudos to all.

I am always happy to see new people decide to post, and happy as well to see posts from my cherished frequent fliers and occasional visitors. These explanations are outstanding. Approaches vary and some posts contain lively prose; readers who follow will be lucky to have this thread. Kudos to all.

ramlala · Answer

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the same as in 2010.:  subject a number is not relevant

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.:  subject a number is not relevant

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same  than  in 2010.  than is not required

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the same than in 2010.  Introduces subject verb erro, than is not requiredr

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.  correct

Ans E

AstroNut · Answer

Given that all options are pretty close to each other, at least when you scan the options, it is necessary that we look at some way of eliminating a couple of options.

After reading the sentence we can be sure that we are talking about a particular number. For example the number of unemployed Americans with disability in 2010 was 1000. Then in 2011 the number was pretty much same, so maybe within a range of 980-1020.

Given that its a particular number we are talking about, we need to use "the". In the original sentence "a number of" changes the meaning, it looks like we are only talking about a majority of the unemployed Americans with disability. For example A number of unemployed Americans with disability started their own business. Here "a number" fits well, but not in the case of our SC question.

If we go with this logic, option A and option B can be eliminated as they both start with "a number".

Now we need to look at the remaining 3 options. Lets have a look!

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010. -  Here although use of "the" is correct, the use of "than" is not correct. We are not comparing, we simply want to say that numbers in both 2010 and 2011 are pretty much same.Had the number in 2011 was higher as compared to the number in 2010, we could have said "In 2011, the number of unemployed people is higher than it was in 2010", but thats not the case here.   Deselect

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010. -  It has the same issue as in Option C, use of "than" is not correct.   Deselect

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.
The number is a definite article used for a specific number like 1000... compared to 1000 in 2010

IMO Answer E

rajatchopra1994 · Answer

Explanation:

IMO-E

A Number of vs The Number of: the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.

Between A & E Option E looks better. No idea why A is wrong

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010. Incorrect

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010. Incorrect as reason stated above

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010. Usage of than is wrong, when comparing as is suitable, also than uses more, less.

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010. Incorrect as reason stated above

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010. Correct

GyanaDash · Answer

Figures from 2011 indicate that  a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010. 
 Wrong  The argument talks about a specific number which is same, hence definite article should be used.

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010. 
 Wrong  Same as above.

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010.
 Wrong  Same than is wrongly used. Than is used to show contrast, not similarity.

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010. 
 Wrong  Same as above. Additionally, the use of “were” is wrong, as number is singular.

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010. 
 Correct  Definite participle is used, and “was” agrees with “number”.

Thank you.

Biswadip · Answer

Split is between "a number" and "the number".
Its pathetic to use "a number" here when the whole concentration is on number. Thus A, B are eliminated.
In C and D "than" is used. Than brings a comparison in this sentence where there is no such comparison. Thus C and D are out.
E must be the OA.

AntrikshR · Answer

"a number of" is always followed by plural verb and "the number of" is always followed by singular verb.
Therefore, B and D are out.
C is out as it says the number of X was same  than  in 2010!--Wrong idiom.
Option A says: As per 2011 figures, Several unemployed American citizens who were disabled were quite same as they were in 2010!

Figures of 2011 are mentioned in the sentence, so we must expect some numbers and not citizens in general!

Whereas E says: In 2011, the number (count) of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as (the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability) in 2010.

Clear comparison of numbers of unemployed American citizens with a disability in 2011 vs no. of unemployed American citizens with a disability in 2010.

IMO E

carrotcake · Answer

Figures from 2011 indicate that  a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

#1 - eliminate 'a number' as we're talking about the specific number that's also present in 2010 figures.

A)  a number  of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

B)  a number  of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

#2 - eliminate plural 'were' as "the number" is singular

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the same than in 2010.

#3 - "than" doesn't have the comparison, correct: "same .... as"

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same  than  in 2010.

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.

The winner: E

winterschool · Answer

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A)  a number  of unemployed American citizens with  a disability  were about the same as in 2010.  Incorrect

a number - plural,

plural number with a disability - sounds bad

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability  was  about the same as in 2010.  Incorrect

SV error - a number - plural, was - singular

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same  than  in 2010.  Incorrect

than uses wrong, as required

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the same  than  in 2010.  Incorrect

SV error- the number - singular, were - plural; than uses wrong, as required

E)  the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010 .  Correct

alwaysHP · Answer

Figures from 2011 indicate that  a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010. 
 a number - were -correct 
the number - was correct

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.
A number - This means more generic way of saying a number
 B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.
 
C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010.
was about the same than - incorrect; As makes sense instead of than 
 D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010.

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.
The number is a definite article used for a specific number like 1000... compared to 1000 in 2010

Neha2404 · Answer

IMO-E
Figures from 2011 indicates particular number...use of the number is more appropriate..

Subject verb agreement 
A number..plural. Use plural form of verb
The Number ....singular...use singular form of the verb
Correct idiom is ...same ..as

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010...... ..Use of A number is wrong ...

B) a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010.: use of A number is incorrect

C) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same than in 2010. .......correct idiom is Same .as

D) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same than in 2010. subject verb error ..and use of were is incorrect

E) the number of unemployed American citizens with a disability was about the same as in 2010. correct

Posted from my mobile device

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

chillbrorelax · Answer

Thanks for the explanation.

I knew the rule that "a number" takes plural verb form, but I did not know the meaning.

Takeaway: a number means several, or some. The number means a quantitative figure.

100mitra · Answer

Correct option E

Figures from 2011 indicate that  a number of unemployed American citizens with a disability were about the same as in 2010.

A)  a number of  unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the  same as  in 2010.
B)  a number of  unemployed American citizens with a disability  was  about the  same as  in 2010.
C)  the number of  unemployed American citizens with a disability  was  about the  same than  in 2010.
D)  the number of  unemployed American citizens with a disability  were  about the  same than  in 2010.
E)  the number of  unemployed American citizens with a disability  was  about the  same as  in 2010.

B, and D - Eliminated  - SV agreement error 
 a number of  - Plural and Was - Singular
 the number of  - Singular and Were - Plural

C, and D - Eliminated  - Wrong Idioms - Same than
Between (A, and E)
 The  is used to refer to specific or particular nouns, which is refered - Figure, Number etc, when meaning is specific.
 A/An  is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns, singular count noun when you mean "one of many"
Eliminates A, and  E is the Correct option

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citize

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Figures from 2011 indicate that a number of unemployed American citize

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards