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

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2) 
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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

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)

• 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  .

"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   contained in the report   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.

AnkitHRD · Answer

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 .

carouselambra · Answer

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

zhanbo · Answer

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).

Anuragsharma93 · Answer

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

jessiemjx · Answer

IMO D.

callmeDP · Answer

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

Sumi1010 · Answer

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

sudeshpatodiya · Answer

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

TarunKumar1234 · Answer

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

winterschool · Answer

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

chiragarora001 · Answer

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

jhavyom · Answer

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.

warrior1991 · 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

kntombat · 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.

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

anjanita · Answer

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.

VerbalBot · Answer

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

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

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

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