UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

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UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

by poonam197 » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:26 am
The number of undergraduate degrees in engineering awarded by colleges and universities in the United States increased by more than twice from 1978 to 1985.

a) increased by more than twice
b) increased more than two times
c) more than doubled
d) was more than doubled
e) had more than doubled

The correct answer is option C

The explanation for option A is given as 'because an adverb such as twice cannot function as an object of the preposition by'

I did not understand the explanation for option A. Could someone explain... Thanks !!
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by rahulakacyrus » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:41 am
See this...

A- The number...increased by more than twice...
This is an ackward construction.

B- The number...Increased by more than two times...
Indicates that it itself has increased.

D- The number...Was more than doubled...
was is not required in this construction..wordy

E- The number...had more than doubled...
Past perfect tense is not required..wordy


Thus C...
Rahul Madan (Cyrus)

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by Shivani Varma » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:00 pm
Also Im not sure if u have got the time to go through spideys notes. In that he mentions thaat the GMAT prefers More than doubled to the other options.

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by rahulakacyrus » Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:45 am
Thanks for sharing that point Shivani.
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