In the 2000s, the annual rate of increase in the average salary of a software engineer was nearly twice as fast as the 1990s.

A twice as fast as
B twice as fast as it was in
C twice that of
D two times faster than that of
E two times greater than

ready4gmat

C

A. As fast as the 1990s is wrong
B. I'm not sure " fast "can be used for " rate of increase"
C. Removes the ambiguity. " Of " refers to the annual rate of increase in the average salary in the 1990s
D. Worst
E. Than reference is incorrect

I'm confused between B and C. I prefer C to B

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In the 2000s, the annual rate of increase in the average salary of a software engineer was nearly twice as fast as the 1990s.

A twice as fast as
B twice as fast as it was in
C twice that of
D two times faster than that of
E two times greater than

Can anyone please confirm if my explanation is correct :


You are comparing rate of increase of avg salary of 2000 with 1990 . The rate of increase is a value .

Rate of increase of average salary for 2000 = avg salary of 2000 - avg salary 0f 1990/ avg salary 0f 1990 x 100 = 20% (Assumption)

When you are comparing values 1 & values 2

Say Value 2 = value 1 x 2 (Which means Value 2 is twice the value of Value 1 )

The value 2 cannot be 2x fast as as / greater than . It has be some percent of Value 1

In the 2000s, the annual rate of increase in the average salary of a software engineer was nearly twice as fast as the 1990s.


A twice as fast as
B twice as fast as it was in
C twice that of
D two times faster than that of
E two times greater than

1. We are not comparing the decades. Hence, A and E are out.
2. Unless we can call the increases as one time, two times, the phrase 'two times' is not useful. You cannot describe a quantum in countable times. Therefore, D is out.
3. The rate of increase does not have speed. We can say-- Tom grows faster than Dick. However, we cannot say Tom's growth rate is faster than Dick's. Therefore, B is out.
C is the answer avoiding the above-said pitfalls. '
Generally, 'two times' is used more in informal daily conversations than 'twice' used in formal writing.
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Hi Prateek,

Whenever you have that of and those of in comparison, look for possible singular and plural antecedent respectively.

Here that refers to - - > look for possible singular antecedent - - - >annual rate

Secondly look for comparison---> of.... Of

In the 2000s, the annual rate of increase in the average salary of a software engineer was nearly twice that(annual rate) of the 1990s




Thank you = Kudos
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