In the United States, while the number of foreign-born residents and t

Question

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

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/07/us/foreign-born-in-us-at-record-high.html

While the number of foreign-born residents and their children is higher than ever, their percentage in the population is not. In the 1910 census, that group made up 35 percent of the  population, compared with 20 percent in 2000 , a spokesman for the Census Bureau said.

daagh · Accepted Answer

I will rather totally ignore this  ‘compared with’  and ‘ compared to’  stuff as I understand that the GMAT is not much concerned with this trivial. But in this topic, the issue is essentially one of comparison. Let us see.

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

A. population when compared to 20 percent in 2000 ........  Wrong logic; 
When did the comparison occur? In 1910 or in 2000? The text suggests that the comparison occurred in 1910, some 90 years earlier about something that is going to happen in 2000. What kind of logic is this?

B. population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent … Wrong comparison…comparing a percentage to a year

C. population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000. … wrong … The group did the comparing in 1910 about something that is going to happen in 2000

D. population, unlike 2000, with 20 percent …..   Wrong comparison; comparing a year with a percent.

E. population, compared with 20 percent in 2000.  Right choice; the comparison occurs in 2000

Now do you need to fall back on idiom? It is not necessar

honchos · Answer

Compare to is Unidiomatic.

Correct Idiom is   compared with  .

However do not use "compare to" vs. "compare with" to eliminate answer choices. instead, find some other criterion on which to make the decision.

lets us look at A-
 A. population when compared to 20 percent in 2000

the "when" here kills this answer choice.

remember that you have to read very literally.
if you read the "when" literally, then you'd be saying that the 1910 immigrant group made up 35% of the population WHEN THEY WERE COMPARED to 20 percent (of something we haven't even specified) in 2000. of course, this makes no literal sense whatsoever.

B. population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent

nothing to which the pronoun "it" can refer.

C. population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000

this is a COMMA + -ING modifier.
  these modifiers modify the ENTIRE PRECEDING CLAUSE, and the verbal (in this case "comparing") is attributed to the subject of the preceding clause.
therefore, according to this answer choice, "this group" actually compared "it" (we're not sure what "it" is) with 20 percent - and did so in 2000 (even though they were in 1910).

D. population, unlike 2000, with 20 percent

"unlike 2000" suggests that there is a direct comparison between "this group" (the subject of the preceding sentence) and the year 2000. that's a nonparallel comparison.
also, the preposition "with" isn't parallel to anything.

E. population, compared with 20 percent in 2000

valid comparison between two percentages.

note the parallel constructions "in 1910" and "in 2000", and also note the lack of the fatal alterations of meaning that exist in (a) and (c).

devashish · Answer

IMO B,

A - Incorrect because 'When Compared to' is Unidiomatic.
C - Incorrect because 'It' does not have a clear antecedent ( 'It' could refer to population or group )
D - Incorrect comparison between 'Population in 1910' and '20 Percent' 
E - Incorrect comparison between 'Population in 1910' and '20 Percent'

B - Correctly maintains the comparison i.e Population of the group in 1910 is compared to Population of the group in 2000. Additionally 'when' is correctly used to modify a Time Period (i.e year 2000 )

daagh · Answer

Here the percentage of the population in 1910 is compared with a percentage in 2000 and hence the use of  compared with  rather than  compared to . Eliminate A and B.

In C, the group seems to be comparing, not the intended purpose of the passage, while in D, year 2000 is being compared with a percentage 
 
E is the best

scheol79 · Answer

E.

Answer choice A and B are out as I prefer compare with. 
Compared X to Y: Compare to stresses similarities.
Compared X with Y: Compare to stress differences.

C and D are out because they can be inferred to modify population.

PTK · Answer

I really doubt that the gmat will EVER require the distinction between "compare to" and "compare with" to eliminate a wrong answer.

OA is E.

A-  when  is wrong here 
B - unnecessary use of  'it' 
C - this is a COMMA + -ING modifier.
these modifiers modify the ENTIRE PRECEDING CLAUSE
D - l ike/unlike  used to compare noun/noun phrase, also, the preposition  "with"  isn't parallel to anything.

E- nice and parallel  in 1910 ...in 2000

gmat1011 · Answer

I think its more a matter of writing style than a grammar 'rule'. If you search on the net you will find many different explanations - just goes to show that there may be no universal standard.

But check this out - this follows "with" for differences; "to" for resemblance

https://www.dailywritingtips.com/compare ... ared-with/

contacttoakhil · Answer

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  make up 50% of the class compared to 10% of the class two years back.

population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent 
B)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 2000 
C) 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 percent 
D) 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 .

GaryDunn · Answer

Penn State says this: 
To “compare to” is to suggest resemblances between things that have essentially different natures:

In appearance, ripples in ocean water can be compared to frosting spread on a cake.

To “compare with” is to suggest resemblances between things that have essentially similar natures:

Despite their different capacities, RAM can be compared with ROM in that both involve memory storage.

vietmoi999 · Answer

IN A and B, "when compared..." and " as compared..." are adverb clauses, which maybe are ellipsised. we are comparing noun phrases "35 percent..." with "20 percent..." , so the use of adverb clauses are not suitable.

"when compared" and "as compared" are nearly alway wrong on gmat because they are not idiomatic.

whenever we see comparision, ask ourself " we are comparing nouns or verbs". this asking help us realize the compared elements.

"compared with/to..."is adjective phrase and must refer to a noun. "compared to/with..." can be far from the noun modified though this farness is not prefered. however, this farness is not wrong automatically. we can see this farness in many OA in many questions in og and gmatprep

GMATPill · Answer

For purposes of the GMAT exam, the distinction between COMPARED TO vs COMPARED WITH is meaningless. Both can be used correctly - it depends more on the context of the structure of the sentence surrounding the phrase. For example, two sentences that are exactly the same - but one says TO and the other says WITH -- this kind of scenario will never happen on the exam.

nhattruong1302 · Answer

Explanation for choice E

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
 wrong idiom "when compared to"

B. population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent
 wrong idiom "as compared to"

C. population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000
 population cannot do the action of comparing. "Comparing ..." incorrectly modifies the preceding clause

D. population, unlike 2000, with 20 percent
 compare a percentage to year
 
 E. population, compared with 20 percent in 2000

arvind910619 · Answer

Imo E 
 
Split 1:  Compared to VS compared with
Compared with is used to compare two similar things .
Compared to is used to show similarity between two dissimilar things

A  use of " when "is wrong as it is used to modify time . 
B  use of when is wrong and population is compared to 2000 
C  present participle modifier "comparing" incorrectly modified the entire clause and does not have correct comparison. 
D  population is compared with 2000 use prepositional phrase starting "with" seem to suggest that there was additional population. 
E  correct

sahilvijay · Answer

A. population  when compared to  20 percent in 2000 => when compared to shows its true only when compared
B. population  as compared to  2000, when it was 20 percent=> year is compared - as compared to is undesirable
C. population , comparing it  with 20 percent in 2000 => inocrrect usage of ,ing modifier
D. population,  unlike 2000 ,  with 20 percent => unlike used incorrectly, with 20% non idiomatic
 E. population, compared with 20 percent in 2000=> perfect

lukachiri · Answer

Hello  GMATNinja 
Request you opinion here with respect to   compared with  , used to compare two similar things and
  Compared to  , used to show similarity between two dissimilar things. 
Can i reject answer based on this ?
Also, i read somewhere that   When compared to/with   are incorrect idiomatically. 
Although i do remember this rule, i am hesitant in rejecting choices based on this. 
can you please clarify ?
Thankyou !

DebbieChats · Answer

I am not exactly sure now of the standards of correct answers given by the test forums and the confidence of answers.

Till date all books said "with" implies difference and "to" implies similarity. But suddenly this forum discussion states just the opposite, along with a veritas question such as below:

He was less successful after he had signed with the Washington Bullets "compared to" the New York Knicks, small forward Bernard King nevertheless earned a steadfast group of admirers who consider him one of the greatest scorers in basketball history.

In the above "compared to" is absolutely fine - two teams are being compared - except Veritas thinks its "compared with"

Its almost like I want a 720 score - god please and god will modify the answers according to my wishes and depends on which god I am praying to and in case its a god with some vengeance - then forbid me lord!

Are the answers standardized or it will also depend on a proctor for a region? For me definitely a Chinese speaking proctor is being given, with very little knowledge of how "concise-to the point -grammatically correct english" works....

thangvietnam · Answer

"compared to/with" works as preposition phrase. this is idiom. this is not do-ed, participle 2 of the verb any more. so, be ready to accept this phrase in OA.

evern "as compared with/to" work as preposition phrase. it is idiom, but not a adverbial clause.

look at macmillan dictionary online.

payalkhndlwl · Answer

Gmat  Ninja what is the difference between A, C & E?

svasan05 · Answer

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  "when" is incorrectly referring to 1910 - we cannot compare the population in 2000 at this time. Eliminate.

(B) population as compared to 2000, when it was 20 percent  A proportion of population is compared to a year (2000). Eliminate.

(C) population, comparing it with 20 percent in 2000  "comparing" has to modify "this group", which refers to the population in 1910. This cannot compare with the population in 2000 which is 90 years later. Eliminate.

(D) population, unlike 2000, with 20 percent  Same error as in (B). Eliminate.

(E) population, compared with 20 percent in 2000  Correct answer - correct comparison and time period is used and no new errors are introduced.

Hope this helps.

In the United States, while the number of foreign-born residents and t

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In the United States, while the number of foreign-born residents and t

Prep Toolkit

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