Pineland.

as fast as is used to show a comparison between two items, so it is required.

Jim@StratusPrep wrote:as fast as is used to show a comparison between two items, so it is required.

Hi, Jim

tks for ur reply in advance.

can u explain it more clearly?

I still don't know why there should be an "and".

And if possible, can u point out what's wrong with other options?

thank u SO much.

Why not E??

IMO D

Last year, land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did outside the pinelands.

The intended meaning is a comaprison shown between the values of A and B. 'Land values in most parts of the pinelands rose 'as fast as' THOSE outside pineland.

Choice E is wordy and fails to show a comparison because of 'than what they did'. THEY refers to whom/what here? Is it values or pinelands or most parts? Unclear and ambiguous!

Next, notice that you have a 3:2 split between THEY DID and THOSE. This shows that something is wrong there too. THOSE shows a logical comparison-> 'Values of ... rose as fast as those outside pinelands.'

Without THOSE-> 'values rose as fast as they did outside pinelands.' (who rose the values? Where is the comparison between the values? None is here). Therefore, we eliminate all answer choices with 'than what they did'. This leaves B, C and D.

Notice the comma in these choices and for a moment, remove the part between the commas and re-read the sentence with B, C and D.

B: Land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost so fast,..., outside the pinelands. -> Illogical construction. No comparison.
C: Land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost as fast,..., outside the pinelands. -> Illogical construction. No comparison. Improper idiom 'as fast...?'
D: Land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost as fast as,..., those outside the pinelands. -> Logical construction, comparison shown, proper form of idiom 'as fast as'.

Therefore, D.

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks.

Hello!

Sorry for bringing back such a death thread. Please suggestions, advices, are very welcome


149.Last year, land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did outside the pinelands.

(A) so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did
(B) so fast, and in some parts even faster than, those
(C) as fast, and in some parts even faster than, those
(D) as fast as, and in some parts even faster than, those
(E) as fast as, and in some parts even faster than what they did


OA D. Narrowed down to E and D (correct form "as fast as")

My questions on the OA

As many persons in this forum had already stated...

I understand that we need a construction more (faster) X than Y now we have: "land values rose in some parts even faster than "Y" (those)

Last year, land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost as fast as, and in some parts even faster than, those outside the pinelands.

BUT it still not very clear to me what's wrong with E:

"Last year, land values rose almost as fast as what they did outside the pinelands."

The statement also means this:
*Land values rose as fast as they rose(=what they did) outside the pinelands.*

My translation of "E" is: *pinelands land values rose as fast, even faster than land values rose outside the pinelands*
What they did = land values rose

How can I avoid falling in this kind of trap? --- For me "D" was a contender, but "E" was more explicit for say.

Thanks in advance!

Ricardo

Hi Rich

Thanks for your reply! Much more clear now, but still have a mini doubt though,
It was clear for me that this question was a comparison between "values of land going up"

BUT it's OK to have in a comparison (comma), before "those"?
"as fast as, and in some parts even faster than, those outside the pinelands"

Best

Ricardo

as....as=correct idiom
in Choice E, they doesn't have an antecedent.
So, D is the choice.