Pkit wrote:
In the United States, while the number of foreign-born residents and their children is higher than ever, the percentage of the population they represent is not, in 1910 this group made up 35 percent of the population when compared to 20 percent in 2000.
A. population when compared to 20 percent in 2000
B. population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent
C. population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000
D. population, unlike 2000, with 20 percent
E. population, compared with 20 percent in 2000
First, GMAT does not make any distinction between "comprared to" and "compared with", as such. So we cannot make any decision based on those differences.
Second if we check the construction is (simplified):
while the number of residents is higher than ever, the percentage of the population they represent is not, in 1910 this group made up 35 percent of the
population when compared to 20 percent in 2000.A) wrong. This group made up 35 percent
when compared to 20 percent in 2000. We should have used compared to directly. Check the following, though not the best construction.
The number of Asians in my class [ now ]make up 50% of the class compared to 10% of the class two years back.
population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percentB)wrong. Here the comma is unnecessary. Also it attempts to compare group (in terms of percentage of population) with year (2000). So not a clean construction.
this group made up 35 percent of the population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent
population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000C) wrong. Here
comparing is not a gerund (not used as a noun) but a participle. Also as it is followed by comma it would try to modify the whole preceding clause. So that is wrong.
population, unlike 2000, with 20 percentD) Wrong. First wrong comparison, second improper use of
like.
this group made up 35 percent of the population,
unlike 2000, with 20 percent
E) Correct.
this group made up
35 percent of the population,
compared with 20 percent in 2000.