|
Author |
Message |
|
TAGS:
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 79
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
1
[0], given: 0
|
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the [#permalink]
 19 Sep 2007, 04:58
Question Stats:
0% (00:00) correct
 0% (00:00) wrong based on 0 sessions
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SVP
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 1913
Followers: 7
Kudos [?]:
55
[0], given: 0
|
Since "drive-ins" are countable noun, answers that contain "amount" can't be correct. We should use "less" rather than " fewer" for percentage --> A
Last edited by laxieqv on 19 Sep 2007, 18:33, edited 1 time in total.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
Posts: 181
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
9
[0], given: 0
|
I will go with A as well. Initially I was incline to pick B since I thought fewer is better to compare countable nos. However as one-quarter is a part of the whole it is better to refer to it using less.
_________________
Regards
Subhen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 79
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
1
[0], given: 0
|
But OA is "C"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 776
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
18
[0], given: 0
|
younggun044 wrote: When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount
I pick B.
We need 'fewer' than since 1/4th of 4000 is countable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 776
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
18
[0], given: 0
|
GK_Gmat wrote: younggun044 wrote: When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount I pick B. We need 'fewer' than since 1/4th of 4000 is countable. I guess we were all wrong.
Now that I know the OA, I guess we are trying to say that now there are fewer than 1/4th than there were in the 50's. Hence C. In B, the idiom 'than x as y' is incorrect I assume. Any clarifications?
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEO
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 2618
Followers: 13
Kudos [?]:
142
[0], given: 0
|
younggun044 wrote: When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount
This has to be C.
Less is used for uncountable things ex/ water, money. You don't say one water two water three water or one money two money three money etc...
E: it is in the wrong tense.
D: the amount? should be of that amount<-- this is still awkward though.
B. as many... leaves you hanging.
C: of that amount is awkward but fewer is correct and that amount correctly refers back to 4000.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SVP
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 1913
Followers: 7
Kudos [?]:
55
[0], given: 0
|
GMATBLACKBELT wrote: younggun044 wrote: When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount This has to be C. Less is used for uncountable things ex/ water, money. You don't say one water two water three water or one money two money three money etc... E: it is in the wrong tense. D: the amount? should be of that amount<-- this is still awkward though. B. as many... leaves you hanging. C: of that amount is awkward but fewer is correct and that amount correctly refers back to 4000. How about A? You didn't mention it at all 
I double-checked by using google to learn about the usage of Amount VS Number. It's clear that "amount" is used for uncountable nouns- nouns that refer to a group rather than distinct individuals.
"Drive-ins" is a countable noun. Thus, we can't use "amount" here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
VP
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 1481
Schools: Wharton (R2 - submitted); HBS (R2 - submitted); IIMA (admitted for 1 year PGPX)
Followers: 9
Kudos [?]:
59
[0], given: 13
|
younggun044 wrote: When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950’s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount
I was thinking it was B because we use fewer for countable nouns -- I am not too sure about the usage of one quarter as many - though it looks right.
Do we have the OA?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 79
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
1
[0], given: 0
|
OA is "C".
But not convinced since "drive-ins" is countabe, so cannot use amount to describe it. Anybody lnows the reason for it? or OA can be wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
0
[0], given: 0
|
I had C.
However, I'm not sure. I read this page:
http://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/318060
and I'm still confused.
Any more opinions?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderators:
metallicafan, rajeevrks27, souvik101990, PTK, MacFauz, noboru, kissthegmat, carcass, willigetmylifeback, mikemcgarry, doe007, Vercules, Legendaddy, tuanquang269, Marcab, Narenn, GetThisDone
|
close
