The sugarcane production in the country is estimated at 2,712 million

Question

The sugarcane production in the country is estimated at 2,712 million tons, nearly 769 tons  less than 2007

A. less than 2007

B. less than those of the 2007 production

C. less than the 2007 production

D. fewer than 2007 production

E. less than that of the production in 2007

daagh : Sir, please explain. Stuck between 2 options.

daagh · Accepted Answer

I suspect this is not a question from the noted Manhattan Prep company and may be from the second ring company Manhattan Review, as once explained by generis in another topic.

Let me tell you why.

1. estimated at is wrong. We never make an estimate at a precise and fixed factor. Estimates are always to be since an element of variance is always inherent in them. 
2. while the production is mentioned in million tons, the shortfall in 2007 production is mentioned in just tons. It should be also in million tons. The lack of proofreading has led to a gross error.

Now on to the question. I presume you were stuck between C and D, (precisely between less and fewer).

The compared factors should be between the production in, God only knows which year, on one hand, and the production in 2007. Since production is a mass factor, less is usable. Please do not go by the thought that since some countable things as tons are involved, the correct thing should be fewer. As you see, 2712 ton is not being compared here with 792 tons, as one is production and the other is a shortfall. Use of less is ok as I see.

You will not only save a lot of time by avoiding such questions but also not get stuck.

anvesh004 · Answer

Thanks for the response

Yes, I was stuck between C and D and now it is clear on why C is the correct answer. As you said, the question is from Manhattan Review. I am disappointed to see such feedback on what i purchased.

Will switch my sources from now, mostly concentrating on OG.

altairahmad · Answer

How would the question have to be construed for 'fewer' to be ok here ? Although both are different parameters, they are still countable or is it one of the unspoken rule for two items being compared to be the same ?

e.g 10 tomatoes are less/fewer than 15 oranges ?

Students in Group A have an average weight of 73 KG which is less/fewer than 75 KG average weight of Group B ? The weight is countable and yet fewer seems very odd.

Please comment.

yash312 · Answer

less than that of the production in 2007
Here "that of " means Sugarcane production 
therefore if you replace the antecedant in the actual sentence

the sentence becomes:
less than Sugarcane production of the production in 2007

Do you think that we do not need "production of production"
Meaning wise it is wrong and also leads to redundancy

hiranmay · Answer

The sugarcane production in the country is estimated at 2,712 million tons, nearly 769 tons  less than 2007 .

A. less than  2007  --> comparing production w/ year, 2007

B. less than  those  of the 2007 production --> what is those of?

C. less than the 2007 production -->  correct  comparison: production vs production

D.  fewer  than 2007 production

E. less than  that  of the production in 2007 --> what is that? production(that) of the production in 2007??

The sugarcane production in the country is estimated at 2,712 million

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The sugarcane production in the country is estimated at 2,712 million

Prep Toolkit

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

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