confusing amount

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confusing amount

by B166418 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:21 am
Sales of unites states manufactured goods to non industrialized countries rose to 167 billion in 1992,which is 14 percent more than the previous year and largely offsets weak demand from Europe and Japan

(A) which is 14 percent more than the previous year
(B) which is 14 percent higher than it was the previous year
(C)14 percent higher than the previous year's year figure
(D) an Amount that is 14 percent more than previous year was
(E) an Amount that is 14 percent more than previous year's figure

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by aspirant2011 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:46 am
B166418 wrote:Sales of unites states manufactured goods to non industrialized countries rose to 167 billion in 1992,which is 14 percent more than the previous year and largely offsets weak demand from Europe and Japan

(A) which is 14 percent more than the previous year
(B) which is 14 percent higher than it was the previous year
(C)14 percent higher than the previous year's year figure
(D) an Amount that is 14 percent more than previous year was
(E) an Amount that is 14 percent more than previous year's figure
i would go with E

A & B wrong because "which" wrongly refers to 1992
C wrongly modifies year 1992
D wrong meaning

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by B166418 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:50 am
Don't we use amount with uncountable things only

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by dodgeforgmat » Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:25 am
IMO E.

A. 'Which' modifies '1992'. Incorrect
B. same as A
C. Year's Year figure is incorrect
D. '...previous year was' is incorrect. It is not the year that was but the sales figure.
E. 'an amount' is introduced to give the correct reference. '...that' can be used for both people and things. '...'more than previous year's figure' is correctly referenced.

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by ov25 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:34 am
imo C.

D and E: Consider 'sales rose to 167b in 1992, an amount that is ' appears unnecessary, too many modifiers chained up.

Prefer C construct which clearly... comma + modify the 'before comma' clause with subject sales' also notice that 'more' generally refers to numbers..whereas greater than or higher than, to increase.

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by B166418 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:27 am
Expert please reply

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by mirantdon » Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:35 pm
Go ahead and pick E