Sentence Correction

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the recent increase in the amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive prices for the American consumer.

A) amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive

B) number of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher

C) numbers of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher

D) number of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive

E) amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher


OAB

Doubts : Why HIGHER is correct? Why not More?

Also don't we need than with HIGHER or MORE? Because I have read that we always need Than with More or Higher

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Needgmat wrote:According to the Federal Trade Commission, the recent increase in the amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive prices for the American consumer.

A) amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive

B) number of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher

C) numbers of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher

D) number of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in more expensive

E) amount of irrigation systems sold by foreign conglomerates in the United States has resulted in higher


OAB

Doubts : Why HIGHER is correct? Why not More?

Also don't we need than with HIGHER or MORE? Because I have read that we always need Than with More or Higher

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Consider the following sentences:

Item x is more expensive than item y. Sounds okay.

The price for item x is higher than the price for item y. Also fine.

Technically we shouldn't write, the price for item x is more expensive than the price for item y, as a price isn't expensive, the item is.

Also don't we need than with HIGHER or MORE? Because I have read that we always need Than with More or Higher

Hi DavidG ,

Than you so much for your reply.

Can you please also explain the above part?

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Needgmat wrote:

Also don't we need than with HIGHER or MORE? Because I have read that we always need Than with More or Higher

Hi DavidG ,

Than you so much for your reply.

Can you please also explain the above part?

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

A comparative such more or higher may appear without than if it is crystal clear what two things are being compared.
An OA from GMAC:
a city economy becoming ever more dependent on information-based industries.
Here, the implication is that the city economy is becoming more dependent THAN IT USED TO BE.
Since the implied comparison is crystal clear, no than is required.

OA: The recent increase in the number of irrigation systems has resulted in higher prices.
Here, the implication is that prices are higher THAN THEY USED TO BE.
Since the implied comparison is crystal clear, no than is required.

To be expensive means to cost a lot of money.
A and D: expensive prices
Here, the conveyed meaning is that the PRICES cost a lot of money.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate A and D.

Needgmat wrote:

Also don't we need than with HIGHER or MORE? Because I have read that we always need Than with More or Higher

Hi DavidG ,

Than you so much for your reply.

Can you please also explain the above part?

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

As Mitch notes, the "than" in the comparison can be implied. The thing you want to be careful of is unidiomatic constructions such as "more as."

A comparative such more or higher may appear without than if it is crystal clear what two things are being compared.
An OA from GMAC:
a city economy becoming ever more dependent on information-based industries.
Here, the implication is that the city economy is becoming more dependent THAN IT USED TO BE.
Since the implied comparison is crystal clear, no than is required.

OA: The recent increase in the number of irrigation systems has resulted in higher prices.
Here, the implication is that prices are higher THAN THEY USED TO BE.
Since the implied comparison is crystal clear, no than is required.

To be expensive means to cost a lot of money.
A and D: expensive prices
Here, the conveyed meaning is that the PRICES cost a lot of money.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate A and D.

Hi GMATGuruNY ,

Thanks for the explanation. It really helps.

Thanks,

Kavin

As Mitch notes, the "than" in the comparison can be implied. The thing you want to be careful of is unidiomatic constructions such as "more as."

Hi DavidG ,

Thanks for your reply.

Noted down the above unidiomatic construction.

Thanks,

Kavin