Choose the sentence with properly used idiom (emphasized with boldface). Please note that a wrong answer choice may be grammatically correct. A. What these scores tell us is that rigor is lacking in some schools. B. What these scores tell us is that some schools lack of rigor. C. What these scores tell us is that there's a lack of rigor in some schools. D. All of the above E. None of the above

Official Solution: Choose the sentence with properly used idiom (emphasized with boldface). Please note that a wrong answer choice may be grammatically correct. A. What these scores tell us is that rigor is lacking in some schools. B. What these scores tell us is that some schools lack of rigor. C. What these scores tell us is that there's a lack of rigor in some schools. D. All of the above E. None of the above Answer: A

Hi Why is answer C not correct ? Thanks a lot for your help.

Hi Bunuel, Where can I find an exhaustive list of idioms? Best Regards,

Check here: gmat-idioms-comprehensive-list-of-gmat-idioms-80342.html

can i please know why ans choice C is incorrect since "lack" acts as a noun rather than a verb

I don't agree with the explanation. be lacking in (lacking is an adjective) = lack (lack is a verb) = A lack of (lack is a noun) Based on the meaning and structure, answer A is WRONG because the subject should be "some schools". It is "some schools" that are lacking in "rigor", how can rigor is lacking in schools? Answer should be C, although in Manhattan Sentence Correction Guide, 4th edition, page 158, the similar sentence "there is a lack of" is suspected, but in Mahattan, what is more suspected is the remainder of the sentenec (to build new.." rather than the term "a lack of" itself. Answer should be C.

Even I think the answer should be C . Can someone give a concrete answer ?

Not only, I find C to be a correct option, but also A as an incorrect and unidiomatic option.

I don't know all the grammar rules, but I can add my 2 cents. I got this right from the get-go and was pretty confident in my answer. C does sound like the right answer, but in A emphasis is place on rigor instead of the lack of rigor. To me, C sounds passive while A sounds assertive and just cleaner overall. C is grammatically correct, however A is "better" to say the least.