Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
sdrandom1 wrote:
According to a survey of graduating medical students conducted by Association of American Medical College, minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than are other graduates in planning to practice in socioeconomically deprived areas.
(A) minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than are other graduates in planning to practice
(B) minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than other graduates who plan on practicing
(C) minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing
(D) it is nearly four times more likely that minority graduates rather than other graduates will plan to practice
(E) it is nearly four times as likely for minority graduates than other graduates to plan to practice
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison + Verb Forms + Idioms• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing") to refer to the purpose/intent of an action.
• Comparison must always be made between similar elements.
• “as A as B” is a correct, idiomatic construction.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "than are other graduates in planning"; the construction of this phrase incoherently implies that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to exist in that they
plan to practice in socioeconomically deprived areas; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "planning" in this sentence) to refer to the intent of the action "are...more likely"; please remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "planning" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose/intent of an action.
B: This answer choice incorrectly compares the verb phrase "minority graduates are" to the noun phrase "other graduates who
plan on...areas", leading to the illogical meaning that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely to exist as other graduates who
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.
C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "as likely as other graduates to
plan", correctly comparing the verb phrase "minority graduates are" and "other graduates (are)", and thus conveying the intended meaning - that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic construction "as A as B". Moreover, Option C uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to +
plan" in this sentence) to refer to the intent of the action "are nearly four times as likely". Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "more likely...rather than other graduates"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to
plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "it is nearly four times more likely", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "as A than B"; please remember, "as A as B" is the correct, idiomatic construction. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "it is nearly four times more likely", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team