A recent research study of worldwide cellular penetration finds that

A recent research study of worldwide cellular penetration finds that there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were in 2005.

(A) there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were. Incorrect
Subject is phone and the verb are is plural , idiom as many than is incorrect
(B) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were . Incorrect
idiom as many than is incorrect
(C) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many as there were - Correct
(D) every two people now have one mobile phone, more than twice as many than there were - Incorrect
idiom as many than is incorrect , subject verb agreement mismatch
(E) every two people now has one mobile phone, more than twice as many as there were - Incorrect
Distorts the intended meaning of the sentence .

Answer C

Answer C. Makes the most logical sense 'as many as' which is grammatically correct.

(A) there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were
(B) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were
(C) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many as there were
(D) every two people now have one mobile phone, more than twice as many than there were
(E) every two people now has one mobile phone, more than twice as many as there were

I would choose C

OA revealed. Thanks for the discussion. Give kudo.

Regards

Could somebody explain to me why the sentence uses "there were" instead of "there was"?

because it said that now the phones are more than twice once before. So is implied we are comparing the number of phoneS now more than the number of before

Hope this helps

I narrowed down the answer choice C and E.i would prefer C because in choice E Distorts the intended meaning.

Official answer from Veritas Prep.

A recent research study of worldwide cellular penetration finds that there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were in 2005.

(A) there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were
(B) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were
(C) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many as there were
(D) every two people now have one mobile phone, more than twice as many than there were
(E) every two people now has one mobile phone, more than twice as many as there were

Option A has 'are' which refers to mobile phone which is singular so elimiate A,option D and E changes the intended meaning as two people do not have one phone together, so elimiate D and E.Left with B and C. the option B has idiom error 'as many than' but the correct should be 'as many as' so we eliminate B and C is he right choice.

this question was more like a booster after I did a lot of mistakes in OG questions.

A recent research study of worldwide cellular penetration finds that there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were in 2005.

(A) there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were

- usage of "are" is incorrect for a singular subject "one mobile phone"

(B) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were

- usage of "as many than" is un-idiomatic

(C) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many as there were

- CORRECT - Are is correctly used, idiom - as many as is correctly used for comparison

(D) every two people now have one mobile phone, more than twice as many than there were

- Changes the meaning

(E) every two people now has one mobile phone, more than twice as many as there were

- Changes the meaning

Hence, Answer is C

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A recent research study of worldwide cellular penetration finds that there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were in 2005.

(A) there are now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were -are -- one --> wrong
(B) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many than there were -as many than --> wrong
(C) there is now one mobile phone for every two people, more than twice as many as there were -Correct
(D) every two people now have one mobile phone, more than twice as many than there were -as many than --> wrong
(E) every two people now has one mobile phone, more than twice as many as there were -two -- has --> wrong

VERITAS PREP EXPLANATION:

The first step we take is to cut away the junk, getting to the core of the Sentence Correction question – by ignoring “of worldwide cellular penetration,” we uncover that the subject of the sentence, “a study finds that,” makes it clear with the usage of “that” that the second portion of the sentence it set up to be a new clause with its own subject/verb relationship. This is the first decision point.

We should also know that there “is,” not “are,” one phone, which definitely puts answer choice A out of the running. Another decision point is our comparison phrase – it should be “twice as many as,” not “twice as many than,” which eliminates options B and D. Quickly, with these decision points, we are down to two remaining answers. E seems to inference that two people share one mobile phone (seems a little tough logistically, right?) aka, an illogical structure to the sentence. That leaves us with the correct answer, C.

Dear IanStewart GMATGuruNY AnthonyRitz,

Q1. For choice D. and E., I just wonder what is the correct verb form for "every two people"

Is it "every two people now" HAVE or HAS?

If \(1+1=3\), does \((1+1)^2\) equal \(4\) or \(9\)?

"Every two people [have/has] one phone" makes zero sense. I have no desire to try to guess the agreement for a nonsense phrase.

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