Toefl Test Grammar

Status
Not open for further replies.

heisazadeh

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
Please, explain. Why C is correct?
What is difference between three of every four and every four of three?

-------------------- migrating water birds in North America visit
the Gulf of Mexico's winter wetlands.
(A) Four of three every (B) Three every four
(C) Three of every four (D) Every four of three
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Please, explain. Why C is correct?
What is difference between three of every four and every four of three?

-------------------- migrating water birds in North America visit
the Gulf of Mexico's winter wetlands.
(A) Four of three every (B) Three every four
(C) Three of every four (D) Every four of three

A and D are incorrect because when you have a fraction like this, the first number would always be lower than the second.
If you had 3 water birds, 4 of them could not visit Mexico! You only had 3 birds, so how could 4 of those 3......?
B is incorrect because you always say "three of...." or "three out of" every...... etc.
Therefore, C is correct.
 

isedehi

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Yoruba
Home Country
Nigeria
Current Location
Nigeria
Three of every four birds simply means every three birds out of an amount of four birds (simple math:-D) while every four of three birds means every four birds out of three birds;this is mathematically incorrect because if we have three birds, how could we count four birds out of them?
 

heisazadeh

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
Three of every four birds simply means every three birds out of an amount of four birds (simple math:-D) while every four of three birds means every four birds out of three birds;this is mathematically incorrect because if we have three birds, how could we count four birds out of them?

That's right. Thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top