Cars and Trucks

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amysky_0205: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 193; Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:53 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 4 times

by amysky_0205 » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:48 pm

In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice the numbers of trucks alone came off the assembly lines.

A. the numbers of trucks alone
B. that number of trucks alone
C. the number of trucks by themselves
D. as many trucks themselves
E. as many trucks by themselves

OA: B

IS the "alone" in A and B means "by itself" here?
can someone explain what's wrong except the OA?

thank u!!!!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:48 pm

hemant_rajput: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 447; Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:13 amFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 46 times; GMAT Score:700

by hemant_rajput » Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:10 am

amysky_0205 wrote:In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice the numbers of trucks alone came off the assembly lines.

A. the numbers of trucks alone
>>The numbers of is a wrong idiom. it should be "the number of truck"
B. that number of trucks alone
>>lets take this one later.
C. the number of trucks by themselves
>>same as a. the number of is always singular. Also themselves usage here is weird.
D. as many trucks themselves
>>themselves again
E. as many trucks by themselves
>>themselves, here too

OA: B

IS the "alone" in A and B means "by itself" here?
can someone explain what's wrong except the OA?

thank u!!!!

so by elimination answer should be B. Let me know if my approach is wrong.

I'm no expert, just trying to work on my skills. If I've made any mistakes please bear with me.

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tisrar02: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 130; Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:13 amFollowed by: 4 members; Location: Toronto, Ontario; Thanked: 16 times; GMAT Score:650

by tisrar02 » Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:13 pm

amysky_0205 wrote:In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice the numbers of trucks alone came off the assembly lines.

A. the numbers of trucks alone
B. that number of trucks alone
C. the number of trucks by themselves
D. as many trucks themselves
E. as many trucks by themselves

OA: B

IS the "alone" in A and B means "by itself" here?
can someone explain what's wrong except the OA?

thank u!!!!

The alone in A and B does mean by itself as well but A has a problem in the sense of numbers. Logically, it is twice the number and not the plural numbers.

In B, "that" sensibly refers back to the 469,000 meaning that twice the 469,000 cars/trucks in the past were trucks alone in 1929. B also uses the correct use of singular "number"--> Correct

In D and E, the idiom as many as is violated so I ruled these answers out as well.

In C, the number of trucks is not clear as well as the usage the number themselves sounds awkward so I ruled this answer out as well.

Hope this helps.

Dedication is what leads to success...

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Tommy Wallach: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 451; Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:58 amFollowed by: 120 members; Location: New York City; Thanked: 188 times; GMAT Score:770

by Tommy Wallach » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:05 pm

Hey Guys,

One quick thing on the idiom here. "Alone" doesn't mean "by itself." That's the other version of alone: "I came here alone."

"Alone" actually means "just".

Man cannot live by bread alone = Man cannot live on just bread.

This is why the idiom they try to use later "by themselves" or "themselves" doesn't work.

Hope that helps!

-t

Tommy Wallach, Company Expert
ManhattanGMAT

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tanviet: Legendary Member; Posts: 1404; Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 18 times

by tanviet » Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:26 am

why D is wrong? pls explain

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Tommy Wallach: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 451; Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:58 amFollowed by: 120 members; Location: New York City; Thanked: 188 times; GMAT Score:770

by Tommy Wallach » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:39 am

I explained why already! : )

The "themselves" is not idiomatically correct. They're using an idiomatic version of "alone" that means "just". But "themselves" can't mean "just," so it makes no sense here.

-t

Tommy Wallach, Company Expert
ManhattanGMAT

If you found this posting mega-helpful, feel free to thank and/or follow me!

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