As a result of the Black Death, the plague that afflicted

Question

As a result of the Black Death, the plague that afflicted Europe in 1348-49,  as many as half the population died and less than half the workforce remained  in certain cities.

a- as many as half the population died and less than half the work force remained

b- as much as half the population died and fewer than half the work force remained

c- as many as half the people died and less than that remained in the work force

d- as much as half the population died and less than half the work force remained

e- as many as half the population and less than half the work force died or remained

GMATT73 · Answer

"half" refers to a volume so it is uncountable.

much...less...

Dead set (D)

uvs_mba · Answer

Yup D for the same reason much and less should be used for uncountable :-D

baski6 · Answer

D but late for the same reason.

half is not countable so much instead of many and less instead of fewer

buzzgaurav · Answer

Agree with D.

C says : less than half the people remained.
The original meaning is : less than half the workforce remained.

GMATT73 · Answer

Ellipsis idiom buried in the sentence:

....as much as half  of  the population...

sumitsarkar82 · Answer

I still don't get it... you said half is uncountable... Hows that ?

GMATT73 · Answer

I still don't get it... you said half is uncountable... Hows that ? 

Which is correct?

There is much water in the glass.



There is many water in the glass.

Much is uncountable. Many is countable.

As a result of the Black Death, the plague that afflicted

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