knew how

[Tinkerbell]

She lived in the town of Burnet, which wasn't a very big town, but was growing as fast as it knew how.

what does knew how mean in the sentence? improbable?

 

[Barb_D]

It is figurative language, since a town itself doesn't really "know" how to grow. It simply means it was growing very quickly.


I'm doing my math problems as fast as I know how to do them.
I'm doing my math problems as fast as I know how to.
I'm doing my math problems as fast as I know how.

The town is growing as fast as it knows how to grow.
The town is growing as fast as it knows how to.
The town is growing as fast as it knows how.

Back then, it WAS growing as fast as it KNEW how.

 

[Tinkerbell]

Thank you :-D