Q164. Sc1000

Nycgrl · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:25 am Post subject: Q164. Sc1000

164. Because natural gas is composed mostly of methane, a simple hydrocarbon, vehicles powered by natural gas emit less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel.
(A) less of certain pollutants than the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel
(B) fewer of certain pollutants than burning gasoline or diesel fuel do
(C) less of certain pollutants than gasoline or diesel fuel
(D) fewer of certain pollutants than does burning gasoline or diesel fuel
(E) less of certain pollutants than those burning gasoline or diesel fuel

Pls explain the logic

loki.gmat · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

few is used to modify countable things & less is used to modify non countable things.
hence eliminate B n D.

in the sentence above, two types of vehicle are compared - one which burns natural gas n the other which burns gasoline or diesel fuel.

A - compares the vehicles with the burning of gasoline or diesel fuel. hence incorrect.

C - compares the vehicles with gasoline or diesel fuel. hence incorrect.

hence IMO E.

Thanks!

Nycgrl · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

Hi Loki

Pollutants are countable......should'nt it be fewer Pollutants????

loki.gmat · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:55 am Post subject:

we i think we measure the level of pollution created by the pollutants.

nyways if we test the parallelism logic in the above qsn, only option E is correct.

Thanks!

Nycgrl · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

few or less is used to measure pollutants only.............question does not talk abou pollution it talks about pollutant....both are totally different.

I think B is correct.

loki.gmat · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

In B the vehicles powered by natural gas is compared to the burning gasoline or diesel fuel, which is incorrect.

Thanks!

Nycgrl · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:20 am Post subject:

Well I agree with you as far as comparison of vehicles go but I am still doubtful regardind the use of work less

netigen · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:38 am Post subject:

author is talking about the amount of pollutants emitted not the number of pollutants hence the ans should be E

chidcguy · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

Initially I thought about the number of certain pollutants as opposed to the amount of certain pollutants. Apparently B & D with the fewer option does not fit the comparison as vehicles need to be compared with vehicles.

Re reading the sentence makes it clear that the author wants to compare the amount of certain pollutants and less is correct choice. Also E compares vehicles to vehicles