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1000SC # 22

by [email protected] » Tue Nov 04, 2008 8:28 pm
A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were
(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were
(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

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It's obvious that the idiom "as many as" should be used, which leaves me with choice (C), or (E)
Then (E) is incorrect, it does not conform to standard comparison
but I don't think (C) is correct. At the end, why "there were", not "there was"????
I guess "one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils" is an ambiguous phrase here
Would anyone help me explain this question
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Re: 1000SC # 22

by logitech » Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:19 pm
[email protected] wrote:A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were
(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were
(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

----------------------------------
It's obvious that the idiom "as many as" should be used, which leaves me with choice (C), or (E)
Then (E) is incorrect, it does not conform to standard comparison
but I don't think (C) is correct. At the end, why "there were", not "there was"????
I guess "one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils" is an ambiguous phrase here
Would anyone help me explain this question
one computer for every 32...
two computers for every 64
four computers for every 128

I think the comparison is between the number of computers..not computer per pupil.
LGTCH
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by raunekk » Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:05 am
a question guys,,,,


four times as many as there were..

here "four times" modifies microcomputer...


my question is :

do we have to consider " four times" that refers to microcomputer , as plural.....??
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by 4meonly » Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:13 am
raunekk wrote: do we have to consider " four times" that refers to microcomputer , as plural.....??
It doesnt refer to computers, four times refers to figure/data.

A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were - Correct
(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were - Changes the meaning
(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as - Changes the meaning
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by raunekk » Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:01 am
@4meonly

thanks a lot man...

But my question is "four times" ( figure/date) is taken as plural...

or for that matter,,,,

two times, three times.... and so on.. all are plural???

or it depends on the context/subject??

for e.g:

Is Esperanto at least four times easier to learn?

thanks
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by stop@800 » Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:18 am
raunekk wrote:@4meonly

thanks a lot man...

But my question is "four times" ( figure/date) is taken as plural...

or for that matter,,,,

two times, three times.... and so on.. all are plural???

or it depends on the context/subject??

for e.g:

Is Esperanto at least four times easier to learn?

thanks
Here "is" is because of Esperanto.

but yes was / were issue in Qn is confusing.

there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were four years ago.

What does second there refers to?
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by [email protected] » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:29 am
4meonly wrote:
raunekk wrote: do we have to consider " four times" that refers to microcomputer , as plural.....??
It doesnt refer to computers, four times refers to figure/data.

A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were - Correct
(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were - Changes the meaning
(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as - Changes the meaning
------------------------------------
I'm not satisfied with your explantion. if now the fraction is "one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils", 4 years ago, the figure was 1/4 of what is now, which means "1/4 microcomputer for every 32 pupils", or " 1 computer for every (32x4 ) 128 pupils. Still single, not plural, right?
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by sam98034 » Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:34 am
there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were four years ago.

there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many [microcomputers] as there were four years ago.

"Microcomputers" is implied...otherwise, four times as many what?

and does "four times as many [microcomputer] as there is four years ago" sound right to you?
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by [email protected] » Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:51 am
sam98034 wrote:there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were four years ago.

there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many [microcomputers] as there were four years ago.

"Microcomputers" is implied...otherwise, four times as many what?

and does "four times as many [microcomputer] as there is four years ago" sound right to you?
Sounds perfect. Thank you!
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explanation for "there"

by ashish1354 » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:10 am
In OG a specific reference suggests that "there" must be used only to refer to some physical location and not other wise. So, i chose E) although it somewhat alters the meaning.

Please help!
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