SC 1000 # 139

[GK]

As the etched lines on computer memory chips have become thinner and the chips’ circuits more complex,
both the power of the chips and the electronic devices they drive have vastly increased.

(A) the chips’ circuits more complex, both the power of the chips and the electronic devices they drive have
(B) the chips’ circuits more complex, the power of both the chips and the electronic devices they drive has
(C) the chips’ circuits are more complex, both the power of the chips and the electronic devices they drive has
(D) their circuits are more complex, the power of both the chips and the electronic devices they drive have
(E) their circuits more complex, both the power of the chips and the electronic devices they drive have

I understand that 'has' is required at the end of the underlined portion instead of 'have'. That eliminates A D E.
In C, 'are more complex' is incorrect. Eliminate C.
Left is B, which is also the correct answer. However, doesn't 'power of both the chips...' in Choice C imply that there are 2 chips that we are talking about, which is not the case in the original sentence?

I'm unclear b/w the meaning/usage of 'both the power of A and B' and 'the power of both A and B'. Can you please explain? Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

However, doesn't 'power of both the chips...' in Choice C imply that there are 2 chips that we are talking about, which is not the case in the original sentence?

Nope. It's 'the power of both A and B', the construction about which you asked below (so see below).
In this sentence it's obvious that there are not two chips (and, more importantly, there is nothing in the sentence to lead to a justified inference that there are only two chips), so you don't have to worry about this imaginary ambiguity. Your brain might be led down the wrong path when you first look at the sentence, but there really aren't many better ways to write it.

I'm unclear b/w the meaning/usage of 'both the power of A and B' and 'the power of both A and B'. Can you please explain? Thanks.

The first one is wrong, and the second one is right; that's the difference. :)
For more discussion about this same issue, see my post here.

[anshul.mah]

"Your brain might be led down the wrong path when you first look at the sentence, but there really aren't many better ways to write it."

I think a better way to write this sentence will be:
the power both of the chips and of the electronic devices they drive has

Will this be incorrect? If yes, please explain.

[mschwrtz]

We've left some SC 1000 questions archived, but will not add to those threads. See forum rules. Sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps you can recast your question as a general verbal question, without reference to any verboten source.

[mschwrtz]

Locked now.