[Vocabulary] rather or some

[eeshu]

Below is an item from an English test held last weekend.

I can't give you an answer yet. I need _____ more time to consider my decision.
A. ever B fairly C. quite D. rather E. some

Many of my friends chose E, but they were told that was not the answer.

Can anyone please explain why 'some' is not the answer here?

 

[GoesStation]

Only E is natural to me.

 

[probus]

"Rather more time" is comprehensible but not something I would ever say.

 

[teechar]

an English test held last weekend.

Details?

 

[probus]

E. Some

may not have been the answer the examiners were looking for, but it is perfectly and indisputably correct.

 

[Yankee]

Below is an item from an English test held last weekend.

I can't give you an answer yet. I need _____ more time to consider my decision.
A. ever B fairly C. quite D. rather E. some

Many of my friends chose E, but they were told that was not the answer.

Can anyone please explain why 'some' is not the answer here?

I think the person who told your friends should explain, because E. is the most logical.

 

[Tarheel]

Below is an item from an English test held last weekend.

I can't give you an answer yet. I need _____ more time to consider my decision.
A. ever B fairly C. quite D. rather E. some

Many of my friends chose E, but they were told that was not the answer.

Can anyone please explain why 'some' is not the answer here?

I can't. In my opinion, some is the answer

It would best to ask the test giver.

 

[bubbha]

In my opinion as a speaker of American English, "some" is the only possible answer.

 

[Rover_KE]

IMO, the best answer is not offered as an option: nothing is needed in that space.

 

[Tdol]

Rather more time does work in BrE, but some would be my first choice.

 

[eeshu]

Details?

This is a national English contest. "Rather" is the given answer.

 

[eeshu]

Rather more time does work in BrE, but some would be my first choice.

'Rather' is the given answer. And I can't see anything wrong with 'some'. That's why I asked.

 

[Tarheel]

'Rather' is the given answer. And I can't see anything wrong with 'some'.

Well, if we have taught you anything you shouldn't see anything wrong with some. Also, Rover's answer should have been an option. Possibly:

What should go in the blank?

a. rather
b. some
c. nothing
d. any of the above

My favorite type of test question. You can't lose!
:-D

 

[probus]

Towards the end of my student days I wrote once or twice "The correct answer for purposes of this examination is ..."

You seem to be facing a similar situation. If the examiners say "Rather" is the only or best answer you have to play along with them. It does not mean that they are correct.

 

[Tdol]

Sometimes examiners have an answer in their head and don't think through all the options fully- I have done it when writing multiple choice tests.