As fast as it was VS When it was

[rohangupta83]

９． In the 1980's the rate of increase of the minority population of the United States was nearly twice as fast as the 1970's.
(A) twice as fast as
(B) twice as fast as it was in
(C) twice what it was in
(D) two times faster than that of
(E) two times greater than

[karmayogi]

９． In the 1980's the rate of increase of the minority population of the United States was nearly twice as fast as the 1970's.
(A) twice as fast as
(B) twice as fast as it was in
(C) twice what it was in
(D) two times faster than that of
(E) two times greater than

A comparing rate with year
B it is ambiguous.
C unnecessarily interrogative
D correctly comparing rate of ... in 1980 with 'that of the 1970's'.
E again comparing rate with year

[iamcste]

９． In the 1980's the rate of increase of the minority population of the United States was nearly twice as fast as the 1970's.
(A) twice as fast as

The key here is that we cannot use fast (or slow, for that matter) for rate--we don't say a fast or slow rate, do we? we say high or low rate

or, can we say when we say rate--as fast as or faster than becomes redundant..I mean when I say care runs at 30 miles/hour..I am trying to say how fast it runs ...so "as fast as" is redundant when we already have "rate of increase"

(B) twice as fast as it was in

The key here is that we cannot use fast (or slow, for that matter) for rate--we don't say a fast or slow rate, do we? we say high or low rate

(C) twice what it was in

Avoids fast and greater than

Correct. Adverb "nearly" modifies adj twice

" what it " refers to the "rate of minority population of US" in that particular year

(D) two times faster than that of

The key here is that we cannot use fast (or slow, for that matter) for rate--we don't say a fast or slow rate, do we? we say high or low rate

(E) two times greater than

The key here is that we cannot use fast (or slow, for that matter) for rate--we don't say a fast or slow rate, do we? we say high or low rate

[Carloblacksun]

I would say C because the subject is not the INCREASE, but THE RATE of increase...a rate cannot be greater or faster, but simply be "twice" or "half"

[Tryingmybest]

To me its C.

The way I look at it is in Choices other than C all have a word which is redundant to " increase" ie faster or greater

[logitech]

９． In the 1980's the rate of increase of the minority population of the United States was nearly twice as fast as the 1970's.
(A) twice as fast as
(B) twice as fast as it was in
(C) twice what it was in
(D) two times faster than that of
(E) two times greater than

rate of increase & fast redundant A,B and D are gone

between C and E

E is out because rate is compared to 1970's

Hence, C

It is not ambigious in C, rate of increase is our only bet for IT ( logically )