IEsailor wrote:
Numerous studies have shown that the income levels of working adults who were students of average academic ability often surpass the income levels of those adults who were once students of exceptional academic abilities.
a) the income levels of those adults who were once students of exceptional academic abilities
b) those of adults who had been exceptionally able students academically
c) those of adults who were students of exceptional academic ability
d) adults who were students of exceptional academic ability
e) the incomes of adults who had been students of exceptional academic ability
Please provide explanations
A and C are close to each other as BDE are easily ruled out.
B: Wrong structure: had been ... able students academically?
D: Wrong comparision:
the income levels of working adults ........often surpass
adults?
E: Wrong tense: "working adults who were students of average academic ability" often surpass "...........audlts who had been students of exceptional academic ability"?
Numerous studies have shown that the income levels of working adults who were students of average academic ability often surpass
the income levels of those adults who were once students of exceptional academic abilities.
A: Wrong comparision and redundant: "the income levels" is repetition and can be replaced by "those".
Also wrong use of "those" - who are those? Unclear.
C: Correct usage and comparision: "those" is correctly used to refer to "the income levels".
"the income levels of working adults" is compared with "the income level (those) of adults".
C is best..
Initially considered A but found C much clearer and concise.