Chicago, where industrial growth in the nineteenth century was more ra

IMO E
In option B, more than two cities are compared.i.e.,chicago's X is compared to X of other american cities. Hence, we need to use superlative form of comparison here. In option E comparative form is correctly used to compare Chicago's X to any other city's X(just one city).

A: Chicago"s growth was more rapid.............. THAN...............Any other American city : THAN what? = Eliminate

the intent : X's growth was more rapid THAn the growth ( implies a usage of THAT ) of Y

B : Chicago had more rapid growth................THAN................THAT OF other American cities : THAT OF = doesn't make sense = Eliminate

Correct usage should be : Chicago Had more growth.........THAN..........America HAD = Introduction of HAD makes it logical.

C : ........growth Industrially more rapid = who is modifying what ? = Eliminate

D : Chicago"s growth was more rapid.............. THAN...............Any other American city : THAN what? = Eliminate

the intent : X's growth was more rapid THAn the growth ( implies a usage of THAT ) of Y

E : Chicago"s growth was more rapid.............. THAN THAT OF Any other American city : Perfect

X's growth was more rapid.......... THAn............. the growth of Y = X's growth was more rapid.......... THAn............. THAT (the growth) of Y : THAT = The Growth

Leading to E , my take

Chicago, where industrial growth in the nineteenth century was more rapid than any other American city, was plagued by labor troubles like the Pullman Strikes of 1894.

We can clearly see the use of comparison marker “than” here. So, Let’s leverage that –
Industrial growth needs to be compared with industrial growth.
In the original sentence, Industrial growth is being compared to “any other American city”.- Incorrect

(A) where industrial growth in the nineteenth century was more rapid than any other American city
Incorrect – Comparison Issue

(B) which had industrial growth in the nineteenth century more rapid than that of other American cities
City has been changed to cities – We really don’t do that in SC.
Usage of “that of ” is incorrect here as the initial clause is using “Had industrial growth”.

(C) which had growth industrially more rapid than any other American city in the nineteenth century
Incorrect – Comparison Issue

(D) whose industrial growth in the nineteenth century was more rapid than any other American city
Incorrect – Comparison Issue

(E) whose industrial growth in the nineteenth century was more rapid than that of any other American city

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