Is the growing economic independence of women one factor in the increase of the divorce rate? (A Course in Basic Scientific English, p. 105)
根据我掌握的英语知识, the increase in 与 the increase of 在表意上是有区别的。据此, 我认为上句中的 the increase of 应改为 the increase in。不知我的看法对否?
the (an) increase in 与 the (an) increase of 在语义上确实是有区别的。the increase (decrease) in A 是指“A 本身有增加(减少)”,但它并没有表达出到底增加(减少)多少。而 the (an) increase (decrease) of A 则是指增大(减少)A,即增大(减少)值为 A。请对比下列例句：
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There was a steady increase in production. (ALD) 产量稳定增加。
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At the meeting they demand a sharp increase in wages. (EED) 他们在会议上要求大幅度增加工资。
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There has been a decrease in production. (ALD) 产量下降了。
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The decrease in size was gradual. (EED) 尺寸的减小是逐渐的。
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His weight showed an increase of 3 lbs. in a month. (UED) 他的体重表明他一个月内增加了 3 磅重量。
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In 1937 a further increase of 7 per cent had taken place. 1937 年又增加了 7%。
在你所提问的句子里,如把 the increase of 改为 the increase in 可能会更好一些。但是,有趣的是,即使不改,句子仍然讲得通,因为把 the increase of the divorce rate 中的 divorce rate 理解为离婚率所增加的那个值(如离婚率增加了 20%,30%),并不影响句子所表达意义的正确性。
请做下面的英语试题：
Only three new sites were built in this city due to a decrease in business activity and prices rising. (TOEFL)