Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices

Question

Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices in the United States  has multiplied nearly four times .

(A) has multiplied nearly four times 
(B) has almost quadrupled 
(C) has almost multiplied by four 
(D) is almost four times as great 
(E) is nearly fourfold what it was

tarunanandani · Accepted Answer

IMO B. 
The sentence starts with 'Since 1970' so we need perfect tense, hence options D and E are out.
In option C, 'almost' incorrectly modifies 'multiplication'. Almost multiplied? either the number gets multiplied or not, 'almost multiplied' is illogical.
Option A is wrong because it is unclear. The number multiplied nearly four times  of what ?
Option B correctly uses present perfect tense and is clear in meaning.

arun6765 · Answer

+1 for B

the number has almost quadrupled is a correct way to say 4x.

Hope it helps.

Abhishek009 · Answer

+1 for (B)

militarytocorp · Answer

+1 for B

Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices in the United States has multiplied nearly four times.

(A) has multiplied nearly four times 
(B)  has almost quadrupled  ......correct usage....the number has almost quadrupled
(C) has almost multiplied by four 
(D) is almost four times as great 
(E) is nearly fourfold what it was

teaserbae · Answer

D and E wrong because of tense error
left with A ,B and C
In A four times of what ? so rejected
In C multiplied by four sounds awkward compared to quadrupled in B 
So B is the answer

Skywalker18 · Answer

Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices in the United States  has multiplied nearly four times .

(A) has multiplied nearly four times - "multiplied nearly four times" does not convey the meaning as the number has become almost four times the original number 
(B) has almost quadrupled - Correct
(C) has almost multiplied by four - quadrupled is better than multiplied by four
(D) is almost four times as great - Tense issue - since 1970 requires present perfect tense ; "as great" is incomplete and is incomplete
(E) is nearly fourfold what it was - Tense issue - since 1970 requires present perfect tense ; "nearly fourfold what it was" is incomplete

Answer B

aragonn · Answer

Official Explanation: 
The best choice for this sentence will be the one that most accurately and idiomatically conveys the information that a number is now nearly four times greater than it was in 1970. Choice A inaccurately speaks of the number as having multiplied nearly four times; this phrase does not express the in tended meaning, that the number has been multiplied by a factor of nearly four. Choice C speaks of the number as having almost multiplied. D does not complete the comparison by specifying what the number is almost four times as great as. In E, the present tense is cannot describe action that has occurred over a period of years; also, what it was is redundant because the starting point for the comparison is established by the phrase Since 1970. Choice B is the best answer for this question.

kapstone1996 · Answer

Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices in the United States  has multiplied nearly four times .

The since indicates to me, present perfect, so should use "have" or "has", dependent on the rest of the sentence.

(A) has multiplied nearly four times -  awkward  
(B) has almost quadrupled -  Concise  
(C) has almost multiplied by four -  four what? 
(D)  is  almost four times as great -  incorrect 
(E)  is  nearly fourfold what it was -  incorrect

I chose B

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Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices

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Since 1970 the number of Blacks elected to state and federal offices

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