shaq Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 I have three questions below that test the usage of double, twice and two times. I am confused as to what to pick. I usually look for other errors and use POE to get to the correct answer. Is there any method to this madness? OG # 72 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 © more than doubled (D) was more than doubled (E) had more than doubled OG # 168 Today, because of improvements in agricultural technology, the same amount of acreage produces double the apples that it has in 1910. (A) double the apples that it has (B) twice as many apples as it did © as much as twice the apples it has (D) two times as many apples as there were (E) a doubling of the apples that it did In 1980 the United States exported twice as much of its national output of goods as they had in 1970. (A) twice as much of its national output of goods as they had (B) double the amount of their national output of goods as they did © twice as much of its national output of goods as it did (D) double the amount of its national output of goods as it has (E) twice as much of their national output of goods as they had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YEHAA Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 C, B, and C?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwivedys Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Shaq - I think these types of questions can be readily answered "by ear" 1. C is correct. A - increased more than twice - well how about simply saying "more than doubled". Conveys the same info much more succinctly. Choice B says "increased two times" implying not that the proportion doubled but that the degrees increased in numbers on TWO OCCASIONS D - was more than doubled -- Number of degrees WAS more than doubled -- the test makers have craftily introduced a Subject Verb agreeement error while correcting the usage error. E - Had more than doubled - No reason to add the past perfect when the simple past suffices. 2 - B is correct. A - look closely - the same amout of acreage produces "double the apples that it HAS" -- why HAS when it implies something that WAS accomplished from the same acreage ostensibly in the PAST? C - As much as twice the apples - as much as is used to denote equality NOT QUANTITY as the sentence implies. D - awkward and wordy E - acreage produces A DOUBLING of the apple - can't quite imagine how an "acreage will produce a DOUBLING" .. 3. C is correct A - what does the THEY point to - United States is singular B - Same problem as A D - As it HAS? Tense problem E - Same as A - They is inapproriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaq Posted September 16, 2004 Author Share Posted September 16, 2004 Yes, C B and C. Thank you dwivedys. I get antsy when I choose answers 'by ear' . I was able to answer the above 3 questions correctly, but was concerned if there was another method to do so. I figured if there is logic behind my choice, I can be more confident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YEHAA Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 double is the verb form of twice. so, for example, we cant use it with produce. and the idiom is twice as many [...] as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abhishek_jha Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Yes, C B and C. Thank you dwivedys. I get antsy when I choose answers 'by ear' . I was able to answer the above 3 questions correctly, but was concerned if there was another method to do so. I figured if there is logic behind my choice, I can be more confident. There is actually a logical explanation to these answers. Whenever faced with these types of problems, please check if the correct comparison is actually being done. In 1: (A) increased by more than twice >> Ask the question "increased by more than twice OF WHAT ?" There's no WHAT defined here, hence incorrect choice (B) increased more than two times >> increased more than two times OF WHAT ? © more than doubled >> more than double OF WHAT --- Answer of itself (So Correct) (D) was more than doubled >> "was" is not required, C is better (E) had more than doubled >> "had" is incorrect, there's no other event to compare to Hence C 2. (A) double the apples that it has >> "has" is incorrect since there's no other event to compare to (B) twice as many apples as it did >> Answers the OF WHAT (twice of what it did in...) and no other error © as much as twice the apples it has >> "has" is grammatically incorrect (D) two times as many apples as there were >> incorrect parallelism "produces" v/s "were" (E) a doubling of the apples that it did >> doubling of apples is idiomatically incorrect 3. (A) twice as much of its national output of goods as they had US is singular, so "they" is incorrect (B) double the amount of their national output of goods as they did US is singular, so "they" is incorrect © twice as much of its national output of goods as it did twice as much OF WHAT ? >> "of its national output" :Correct (D) double the amount of its national output of goods as it has Usage of "has" is incorrect (E) twice as much of their national output of goods as they had US is singular, so "they" is incorrect Hence C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitestr Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Additional examples: My apartment is twice as big as Jim's - We have been here twice. There is actually a logical explanation to these answers. Whenever faced with these types of problems, please check if the correct comparison is actually being done. In 1: (A) increased by more than twice >> Ask the question "increased by more than twice OF WHAT ?" There's no WHAT defined here, hence incorrect choice (B) increased more than two times >> increased more than two times OF WHAT ? © more than doubled >> more than double OF WHAT --- Answer of itself (So Correct) (D) was more than doubled >> "was" is not required, C is better (E) had more than doubled >> "had" is incorrect, there's no other event to compare to Hence C 2. (A) double the apples that it has >> "has" is incorrect since there's no other event to compare to (B) twice as many apples as it did >> Answers the OF WHAT (twice of what it did in...) and no other error © as much as twice the apples it has >> "has" is grammatically incorrect (D) two times as many apples as there were >> incorrect parallelism "produces" v/s "were" (E) a doubling of the apples that it did >> doubling of apples is idiomatically incorrect 3. (A) twice as much of its national output of goods as they had US is singular, so "they" is incorrect (B) double the amount of their national output of goods as they did US is singular, so "they" is incorrect © twice as much of its national output of goods as it did twice as much OF WHAT ? >> "of its national output" :Correct (D) double the amount of its national output of goods as it has Usage of "has" is incorrect (E) twice as much of their national output of goods as they had US is singular, so "they" is incorrect Hence C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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