OG11-4

4.         A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20,736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, twice as much
                                as 1977.

twice as much as 1977 twice as many as 1977 double what it was in 1977 double the figure for 1977

a number double that of 1977's

Diction

Some quantities, such as people, can be counted; other quantities, such as respect, cannot. It can be said that a person earned much respect, or that many people attended an event. Here, much is incorrectly applied to ministers. As 1977 incorrectly completes the comparison; it would have to be as many as in 1977, which is not one of the possible answers. Another way to make the comparison emphasizes the number, 20,736; a number can be doubled. Double the figure for 1977 places the focus on the number and correctly completes the comparison.