Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked, the number of

Question

Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked, the number of tellegrams delivered annually  have decreased from 200 million  to only 21,000 last year.

A. have decreased from 200 million

B. have been reduced from 200 million

C. has decreased from 200 million

D. has been reduced from 200 million down

E. has decreased from 200 million down

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The main subject of the sentence, the singular “the number,” requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, the plural “have decreased” is incorrect.

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The main subject of the sentence, the singular “the number”, requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, the plural “have been reduced” is incorrect. In addition, “been reduced” is a passive verb, implying that some external force acted to reduce the number of tellegrams delivered. The active verb “decreased” would be preferable, since it indicates simply that the change occurred.

(C) CORRECT.  The main verb of the sentence, the singular “has decreased,” maintains subject-verb agreement with the singular “the number.”

(D) The passive voice “been reduced” implies that some external force acted to reduce the number of tellegrams delivered. The more concise active voice “decreased” is preferable, since it indicates simply that the change occurred. The phrase “down to” is redundant of “reduced.”

(E) The phrase “down to” is redundant of “decreased.”

321kumarsushant · Answer

Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked,  the number of https://gmatclub.com/chat-{singular}  delivered annually  have decreased from 200 million  to only 21,000 last year.

A. have decreased from 200 million - have plural, Wrong
B. have been reduced from 200 million - have plural, Wrong
C. has decreased from 200 million - correct
D. has been reduced from 200 million down - from A TO B is correct Idiom.
E. has decreased from 200 million down - from A TO B is correct Idiom.

4d · Answer

OA must be C .

The number of implies - have
Idiom - From X to Y

From the above 2, C will be the answer

Abhishek009 · Answer

The number will take singular verb " has "   ( Only options C, D & E Possible )

(D) Been is used incorrectly ; reduced - down is wordy

(E) Decrease - Down in wordy

(C) uses correct idiomatic form ; from x to Y and correct subject verb agreement the number....has

Hence IMHO With the OA (C)

VerbalBot · Answer

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Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked, the number of

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked, the number of

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