Financial Services (Sentence Correction)

[tex.boonjue]

According to a recent study conducted at over 100 American universities, the number of college graduates interested in pursuing a career in financial services is likely to double by 2010.

is likely to double

are likely to increase by twice

are likely to double

will double

will increase by twice


* If the question read " universities, college graduates...."
instead of "the number of college graduates..."

Then would the answer be "are likely to double"
instead of "is likely to double" ?

[jnelson0612]

According to a recent study conducted at over 100 American universities, the number of college graduates interested in pursuing a career in financial services is likely to double by 2010.

is likely to double

are likely to increase by twice

are likely to double

will double

will increase by twice


* If the question read " universities, college graduates...."
instead of "the number of college graduates..."

Then would the answer be "are likely to double"
instead of "is likely to double" ?

That's an interesting question. I think we would have another issue issue in that case; I need to make it clear that it's the *number* of people that is likely to double. If I just say "college graduates are likely to double" that is not as clear as it should be.

For example:
The population of cats is likely to double.
The number of cats is likely to double.
Cats are likely to double.

What does that mean? Each cat is going to spontaneously generate another, identical cat? A "number" can double; a "cat" cannot. It is the same situation with "college graduates". :-)

[tim]

keep your spam off our boards!