Sc 1,000 #22

[divnamite]

22. A recent national strudy 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)

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 manay as there were

D) every thirty-two pupils now have one computer, four times as many then there were

E) every thirty-two pupils now has one computer, four times as many as

 

 

 

C, why? I get confused with there is / there were

 

[iknownoone]

I'd go with C

A - there are one microcomputer - subject-verb agreement

B - as many than - incorrect

D - as many than usage

E - the "four times" appears to be comparing wiht "computer" rather than the pupil count.

[divnamite]

Shouldn't "there is" match "there was" instead of "there were" in C?

In another word, "There is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as manay as there WAS four years ago".

© makes it "There is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there WERE four years ago"

[shud]

C seems to be the best option.

But divnamite, you are right. I am too not sure whether usage of 'were' is correct.

It might depend upon the meaning of the sentence. As I understand, there were 1/4 computers per 32 people four years ago. Possibly, for any value other than 1 we cannot use 'was'.

[Boddy]

Will go with C

[divnamite]

My answer is C as well. Simply because A/B/D/E is CLEARLY incorrect. However, I don't think C is correct either.

[iknownoone]

>Shouldn't "there is" match "there was" instead of "there were" in C?

>In another word, "There is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two >pupils, four times as manay as there WAS four years ago".

>© makes it "There is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, >four times as many as there WERE four years ago"

 

Expl: The phrase "four times as many as there" is referring to the pupils and not to the microcomputers and hence "were" is correct. It is modifying the nearest subject.

[divnamite]

Ah, I see now. I guess I better work on my sentence correction a little bit more.

[matrix_reinvented]

My Answer is C