Despite the growing world population,
estimated at around 6 billion and growing every day, few economists believe the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus would come true.
A. estimated at around 6 billion and growing every day, few economists believe the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus would come true
B. estimated at around 6 billion people, growing every day, few economists believe the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus will come true
C. estimated to be about 6 billion people and growing every day, few economists believe the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus will come true
D. estimated to be around 6 billion and it grows every day, few economists believe the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus will come true
E. estimated at about 6 billion people that grows every day, few economists believe that the dire predictions of Thomas Malthus would be true
Answer: C.
The correct idiom is “estimate…to be.” That eliminates choices A and B. Choice D violates parallelism by using the construction “it grows every day.” Choice E improperly places the phrase “that grows every day” after people and uses the wrong verb tense (as did A).