Question

During the State of the Union address every February the president announced the amount of the new programs the administration planned to create and the amounts of money it invested in each one.

• A. announced the amount of the new programs the administration planned to create and the amounts of money it invested in each one
• B. announced the amount of the new programs the administration had created and the amount of money that was invested in each one
• C. announces the number of the new programs the administration plans to create and the amount of money to be invested in each one
• D. announces the amount of the new programs created by the administration and the amount of money invested in them
• E. had announced the administration's plans for a number of new programs and the amounts of money that were to be invested in them

Hint:

Use "number of" for things you can count (friends, dollars, ideas). Use "amount of" for things you can't count individually (love, water, money). Also, use the simple present tense for actions that happen regularly or habitually.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests verb tense consistency and the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns ("number" vs. "amount").
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Verb Tense: The phrase "every February" indicates a recurring, habitual action. The simple present tense is used to describe such actions. The original sentence uses the simple past tense "announced," which is incorrect for a habitual event. The verb should be "announces." This eliminates options (A), (B), and (E).
Number vs. Amount: The word "amount" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., amount of water, amount of money). The word "number" is used for countable nouns (e.g., number of dogs, number of programs). The sentence refers to "new programs," which are countable. Therefore, it should use "the number of the new programs," not "the amount." It also refers to "money," which is uncountable. So, "the amount of money" is correct.
Let's check the remaining options:

(C) announces the number of the new programs... and the amount of money... - This correctly uses the present tense "announces," "number" for countable programs, and "amount" for uncountable money. It also maintains parallel structure ("plans to create" and "to be invested").
(D) announces the amount of the new programs... - This incorrectly uses "amount" for the countable noun "programs."
Step 3: Final Answer:
The recurring action requires the present tense verb "announces." The countable noun "programs" requires the quantifier "number." The uncountable noun "money" requires "amount." Option (C) makes all these corrections.