Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar is from

Question

Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar  is from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition .

A) is from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition

B) is from peanuts, which provides quality nutrition

C) is from peanuts, that provides quality nutrition

D) are from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition

E) are from peanuts, which provides quality nutrition

BeckyRobinsonTPR · Accepted Answer

Official Answer:

Sentence Correction questions with subjects that represent portions of something (such as percent, portion etc...) can be singular or plural. You determine whether it is singular or plural depending on the object of the preposition which follows. For instance fifty percent of the pie is singular while fifity percent of the pies is plural. This is an often used trick on the GMAT and one to watch out for.

In this question there are 50 percent of the calories and since calories is plural then the subject is plural and needs the plural "are" in the answer. This eliminates A, B and C as possible answers.

The next issue is whether the verb "provides" should be plural or singular. The "which" that begins the clause changes the subject of the clause to peanuts, as opposed to percent. Thus the verb needs to be plural. the plural form is the verb "provide" and thus D is the best answer.

argha · Answer

IMO A

"Fifty percent" will take a singular verb ie  "is" . In the second part of the sentence, it should be a plural verb ie.  "provide"  as it defines peanuts.

Regards

Argha

argha · Answer

Hi,

Thanks for pointing out my mistake.

I did overlook the issue.

Regards

Argha

varun4s · Answer

Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar  is from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition.

A)  is  from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition  (Calories are plural)

B)  is  from peanuts, which provides quality nutrition  (Same as A)

C)  is  from peanuts, that provides quality nutrition  (Same as A)

D) are from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition  (Correct)

E) are from peanuts, which  provides  quality nutrition  (Peanuts are plural)

Kudos please if you like my explanation.

TejasD · Answer

D fits. Classic SV agreement question.

Sent from my XT1562 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

kunalsinghNS · Answer

Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar is from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition.

A) is from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition

B) is from peanuts, which provides quality nutrition

C) is from peanuts, that provides quality nutrition

D) are from peanuts, which provide quality nutrition

E) are from peanuts, which provides quality nutrition

In the above question option "D" is the correct answer because - 
1. Portions can be singular or plural hence, the subject in the prepositional phrase should be considered. In this case "Calories" is the subject therefore the corresponding verb will be plural "are"
2. "peanuts" plural hence plural verb should be used "provide"

Abhishek009 · Answer

For Quantity Prepositional Phrases -

1. Some of the_________
2. Most of the_________
3. Two of the __________
4. A number of _________
5. Majority/Minority________

Verb agrees with whatever comes in the blank space ......

Source : eGMAT

Thus, (A) , (B) and (C) can be rejected....

(E) Peanuts ------> Provide (Incorrect)

Hence, Answer must be (D)

abhishekmayank · Answer

Hi Experts,

For the sake of the readers, could you please confirm that these sentences are correctly complying with the SV agreement :

1. Fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar  are  from peanuts.
2. Percentage of the calories in this candy bar  is  minimal.

AjiteshArun 
 AndrewN

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  abhishekmayank . The subject-verb agreement of both sentences you have written is correct. In the first, the object of the preposition,  calories , acts as the subject, while in the second, the noun  percentage  (even if the sentence would need  the  ahead of it to work) takes on the role of subject instead, and a percentage is a singular entity with the article  the  ahead of it. To further understand the first sentence,  fifty percent  on its own conveys nothing about the subject, which is why we need the object of the preposition to qualify the verb. Consider the following two sentences:

a) Fifty percent of  the handwriting  on this note  is  legible.
b) Fifty percent of  the players   prefer  playing to going on strike.

I hope that helps illustrate the point. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this question.

- Andrew

abhishekmayank · Answer

Thanks  AndrewN  for the clarification !!

VerbalBot · Answer

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Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar is from

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Approximately fifty percent of the calories in this candy bar is from

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