Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

monicashen · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 16

I eat ___ vegetables and ____ meat than I did last year.
That's why you're getting fater.
A. fewer, more B. more, less C. less, more D.many, much

The correct answer given is C.

Technique for choosing the right answer:-
B) & D) are definitely out as the second part points to lesser meat being taken.
That will leave us with A or C for the MORE in the latter part of the answer.
The correct answer given is C).

Why FEWER VEGETABLES is wrong?

dragn · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 450

monicashen · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 16

Thanks Greg for the quick answer.

What I worry most is the multiple choice question is from mainland China where quality control is a problem.

They could have printed the wrong answer or there was simply a matter of commitment in designing the question.

Based on your answer, I must say that they should change the answer set slightly to avoid that confusion, even though the question was set anyhow to test the usage of FEWER or LESS.

Without someone there to provide a solution, many students or teachers could be burning unnecessary energy or arguing about picking up the right answer.

I am more than relaxed now having secured a satisfactory answer.

Thanks again.

dragn · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 450

I can assure you that here in Taiwan English textbooks are routinely full of mistakes and various Chinglistic oddities...although I admit it has improved a lot in the last decade or so. I have several private students who teach junior high and high school English, and it frequently falls to me to referee squabbles over screwy test questions.

Anyway, I have no reason to believe that China is a great deal better. Sometimes it reminds me of the Bible verse about the blind leading the blind. Rolling Eyes

Greg

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

But, a vegetarian might think that B. was the best answer - more veg less meat

redset · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 582 Location: England

monicashen · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 16

Interesting discussion on this VEGETABLE stuff. In everyday use, nobody cares really what one uses - few or less.

However, when it comes to a grammar question in a test when you need to return only one answer, it is tough.

I pity the students, who are not mature enough to appreciate our discussion here.

redset · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 582 Location: England

Honestly if it's a grammar test that's meant to illustrate the basic usage, it's a bad question - especially considering which answer they marked as correct!