Found on [deleted] and TestMagic forums:

Floating in the waters of the equatorial pacific, an array of buoys collect and transmit data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, interactions that affect global climate.


A. an array of buoys collect and transmit data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, interactions that affect
B. an array of buoys collects and transmits data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, with interactions affecting
C. an array of buoys collect and transmit data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that affects
D. an array of buoys collects and transmits data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that is affecting
E. an array of buoys collect and transmit data on long term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere as

For this problem, I tried to use the rule 'a number of' vs 'the number of'. It seemed to me that 'an array of buoys' should take a plural form of verb hence 'collect and transmit' would be correct but actually the singular form is correct here. Does that mean we cannot generalise 'a number of' rule, as in this case? Aren't buoys collecting data here and hence they would collect and transmit. If it is indeed singular, that leaves us with options B and D. B seems the better of the two. Please confirm.
If, however, the plural form were correct, which was my preferred choice, I would have gone with option A ??

In "array of buoys", the prepositional phrase "of buoys" is serving merely as a modifier, describing the array. That said, the subject of the sentence is "array" - a singular noun. It requires the singular verb "collects" -- eliminate A, C, and E.

Choice D conveys that the data is affecting global climate. That's not the original meaning: the interactions themselves affect global climate. Eliminate D.

To be honest, I don't think B is a particularly good option, either. "with interactions affecting..." doesn't capture the same meaning as the original as I read it, but it seems to be a better option over D.

To address your question specifically, "a number of" vs "the number of" is a specific distinction that may not be generalized. The reason "a number of" is plural has more to do with the indefinite article "a." Similarly, "the number of" is singular because of "the." Again, there is no general rule here, but rather a specific case for the word "number."

So, "a crowd of strangers," "the gaggle of monkeys," "a group of executives," and "the body of knowledge" are all singular.

Rey

Hey viksnme

I agree it is between B and D due to the singular verb collect. A hint is use of the work 'an' to indicate singluar noun.

B wrongly implies that the the array of buoys had some interactions and these interactions were affecting global climate.
If we look at the meaning, the buoys only transmit and collect info, but they do not participate in affecting global climate.

Hence, to maintain the meaning of the sentence, I would have selected D.....but what is the use..I will get a lower score then! :roll: What do you think Rey?

viksnme - I deleted the first website you mentioned because it is a banned source. Please do not post things from banned sources.

Since you also mentioned another source for this question which is not a banned source, I didn't delete your entire question. If you have other questions that you find on both sites, only mention TestMagic. And don't post things from that other website - it hosts copyrighted materially illegally and we don't like that. :)

_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT

Aragorn (and viksnme and anyone else reading this!)

Don't study this question. Whoever wrote it didn't even follow one of the most basic rules of SC: there's always at least one difference in the first word of the underlined portion and one difference in the last word (among the answer choices). This one has the same four words ("an array of buoys") at the beginning of each answer choice. If whoever wrote this didn't even bother to follow a very-easy-to-research-and-follow rule, then the author probably also didn't both to make it GMAT-like in a hundred other more subtle and important ways. Not worth your very precious study time.

If you're going to study from non-OG sources, do try to make sure that the questions are high quality. If you're not sure whether something is good quality, ask us; we'll be happy to give our opinion. :)

_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT

Hi Stacey, all points noted:
1. not to post from a banned source - sorry didnt realise that. Students using that site frequently report 700+ scores so you tend to use it.
2. using non OG sources - OG11 and OG10 have limited questions. I have done those so tend to use as many sources as possible but will avoid such sources if their quality is dubious.
3. ask you about the quality of questions - will find out how to send personal message asking about this. :)

Thanks much for the advice.

Ray, thanks for reminding. We so diligently memorised in school that 'fleet of ships', 'bouquet of flowers', 'crowd of people' etc. are all singular. I should have related these.

Apologies, Rey.

this question is actually #96 in OG Verbal 2nd edition

Thanks, and yeah, this is definitely a banned source.

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Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor