1000 SC - #51

[Sadowski]

51. According to surveys by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 20 percent of young adults used cocaine in 1979, doubling those reported in the 1977 survey.
(A) doubling those reported in the 1977 survey
(B) to double the number the 1977 survey reported
(C) twice those the 1977 survey reported
(D) twice as much as those reported in the 1977 survey
(E) twice the number reported in the 1977 survey

I assumed that E would be incorrect because the statistic tells us about a specific percentage of some number of adults, leading me to choose "twice as much" (a non-count word). With statistics like this, do you always use "countable" words? Answer: E

Thanks for your help.

[isisalaska]

You cannot use "twice as much" for numbers since much is used only for uncountable nouns and 20% of young adults is countable noun

[theperseus]

We want to compare the "20 percent", hence "the number" in the survey - not the number of young adults.

D incorrectly uses "those" which refers to "young adults".

[[email protected]]

Could you guyzzz plss give an explanation for each and every option!! That explanation becomes easier in understanding other questions properly!!!

[sam2304]

A - doubling those - those is referring to young adults, double the no of young adults is fine but doubling young adults is not right.
B - to double - usage of to here in this context is wrong
C - twice those - same as A those is referring to young adults.
D - twice as much as - young adults are countable as much as usage is wrong

IMO E.