Question

In Central America the staple foods are rice and bean. A. rice and bean B. bean and rices C. rice and beans D. rices and beans E. beans and rices

Short answer

C. rice and beans

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Correct Plural Forms

The correct plural form of 'rice' is 'rice' itself, and the correct plural form of 'bean' is 'beans'.

Check the Combination Options

Evaluate each answer choice based on the confirmed plural forms. Only choice that follows standard grammar rules should be considered correct.

Eliminate Incorrect Choices

Remove choices B, D, and E since they incorrectly use 'rices', which is not the appropriate form in this context.

Choose the Correct Answer

The remaining choices are 'A. rice and bean' and 'C. rice and beans'. Since 'beans' must be plural to indicate that it is more than one, the correct answer is choice C: rice and beans.

Key concepts

plural forms

When it comes to the correct usage of plural forms, knowing the basics is key.
A plural form indicates that there is more than one of a certain noun.
For example, the plural of 'bean' is 'beans'. This rule is consistent with many countable nouns where you simply add an 's' to the end.
However, not all nouns follow this simple rule.
Some nouns have irregular plural forms, and some remain unchanged whether singular or plural.

• The plural of 'rice' is still 'rice'. It does not change because it is an uncountable noun.
• Beans, on the other hand, is a countable noun, and its plural form is 'beans'.

Knowing these differences is crucial to understanding and choosing the correct forms in sentences.
The correct plural forms help convey the accurate meaning and ensure that sentences make sense to the reader.

grammar rules

Grammar rules are the backbone of any language.
They ensure that sentences are structured correctly and convey the intended meaning. Here are some vital grammar rules relevant to the exercise:

• Agreement: The words in a sentence must agree in number. For example, if you are talking about more than one bean, you must use 'beans'.
• Consistency: Maintain consistent use of singular and plural forms to keep the sentence clear and grammatically correct.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: Make sure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).

In our exercise, the sentence is 'In Central America the staple foods are rice and bean.'
Here, 'bean' should be in its plural form 'beans' to match 'rice' and ensure that both foods are correctly identified.
Therefore, applying these grammar rules, 'rice and beans' is the correct form.

answer choice evaluation

Evaluating answer choices is an important skill, especially for GMAT sentence correction.
Here's how you can effectively evaluate the choices given in an exercise:

• Understand the Sentence Structure: First, understand the structure of the original sentence. Know what it aims to say before looking at the options.
• Identify Key Points: Identify key grammar points that are being tested. Plural forms and subject-verb agreement are common points for sentence correction.
• Eliminate Incorrect Options: Begin by eliminating choices that do not follow standard grammar rules. This narrows down your options.
• Choose the Correct Answer: From the remaining choices, select the one that is grammatically correct and makes the most sense in the context of the sentence.

In our example, we eliminated 'B', 'D', and 'E' because they incorrectly used 'rices'.
This left us with 'A' and 'C'. Upon further evaluation, 'A' ('rice and bean') does not follow the rule of plural forms, while 'C' ('rice and beans') does.
Thus, 'C' is the correct answer.
Practicing these strategies will help you become more efficient and accurate in choosing the right answer for GMAT questions.