Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times time

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population of in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population
There is no antecendent of 'thier' because hte subject is he population and not wolfs, for that reason this is wrong.
(B) four times the estimated population
Clear and crisp meaning without any error.
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
estimated amount is wrong usage for the population.
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
population estimate is compared to more wolfs, also option b is better.
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
again their has no antecedent. and is thus wrong sentence.

In this sentence correction example, our goal is to find whether the underlined part of the sentence is the correct one or there are any other options which would suit better. Let us have a look at the options one by one:
(A) four times that of their estimated population - The first part of the sentence states that "Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000". Use of the phrase "that of" in the second part of the sentence is redundant since according to the parallelism the comparison should be made with the population of wolves in 2013, and it is not clear what the word "that" is referring to. Incorrect.
(B) four times the estimated population - This answer is concise and clear. It is the shortest answer which; however, does not lose its meaning. Correct.
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount - "Population's estimated amount" is wordy and is not the correct use of words. Both population and amount express the quantity, and the use of both in one context is unnecessary. Incorrect.
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate - In the first part of the sentence the author speaks about population of wolves, hence, it is clear that the speech is about population of wolves in the second part of the sentence, and it would be more concise to drop the word "wolves" in this case. In addition, the phrase "than their population estimate of" does not have any word to refer as instead of wolves we already used the word "their". Incorrect.
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount - This answer carries mistakes both from options A and C. Incorrect.

IMO B;

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population of in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population ; that of their is wrong
(B) four times the estimated population ; concise and correct
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount ; estimated is wrong
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate ; more wolves is wrong
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount ; population's estimated is wrong

Let’s begin from the correct answer choice. Understanding why B is correct greatly helped me understand why the others are incorrect.

B. Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times the estimated population in 2004.

Usually adverbial modifiers at the end of a sentence that are separated by a comma (the blue part above) describe the closest verb numbered and its subject population in the preceding sentence. What was the population in 2013? The actual population numbered four times the estimated population:

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered four times the estimated population in 2004.

The actual population is compared with the estimated population. Blue parts above are parallel. Thus I think that B is correct.

A. Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

The blue elements of the comparison above are parallel, but the red part is parallel to nothing. Let’s first address that.

We either use 'the population': The population in 2013 numbered four times the population in 2004.
Or use 'that': The population in 2013 numbered four times that (the population) in 2004.
But NOT both: The population in 2013 numbered four times that of the population in 2004.

The reason is that the only singular noun that could possibly refer back to is the population. So for A, we get ...four times the population of their estimated population. That’s nonsensical.

Now let’s address their. There is no plural noun that their can refer to. The only possessive is Montana’s and it is singular. Question: would it be correct if we had its instead of their? NO, because now we would compare Montana’s wolf population with its (Montana’s) estimated population (people). The original sentence is not comparing the population of wolves with that of people. Additionally, its wouldn’t refer to wolf because wolf is an adjective here, not noun. Thus even its would be incorrect.

C. Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times more than the population's estimated amount in 2004.

Above all, amount is incorrect because wolf can be counted. Secondly, simultaneous usage of two quantity words (population, amount) is redundant. We don’t usually say – Please check the quantity of the amount of sugar. We either say – Please check the quantity of sugar, or say – Please check the amount of sugar. We also say – amount of sugar, but not – sugar’s amount. ...population's estimated amount... is incorrect for these two reasons.

D. Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times more wolves than their population estimate in 2004.

The only plural noun that their can refer back to is wolves, so the sentence would read:

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered four times more wolves than the wolves’ population estimate in 2004.

It is illogical to compare the number of wolves with the wolves’ population estimate. Besides, ...the wolves’ population estimate... illogically suggests that wolves have population estimate.

E. Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times more than that of their population's estimated amount in 2004.

This answer choice is the most brazen out of all. Because it is made up of all the errors form A, C, D, and E, it is just like Frankenstein's monster

Hence B

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population of in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population Use of " that of their" is incorrect. Illogical comparison.
(B) four times the estimated population - CORRECT
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
Completely wrong. Messes up everything.
four times more - Changes the meaning.
the population's estimated amount - is completely wrong.

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate Same error as in B
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount Same error as in B

Ans - B

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population
Use of their is Incorrect
(B) four times the estimated population
It is short and simple and grammatically Correct
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
Use of amount is Incorrect
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
It is wordy. Incorrect
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
It is wordy. Use of their is Incorrect

IMO B

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population of 250 in 2004.

Discarded options have Prefix X.

X(A) four times that of their estimated population
>>Doesnt look wrong at first. But, 'THAT OF' is unnecessary. Makes sentence confusing.

(B) four times the estimated population
>> CORRECT ... conveys same meaning with efficiency and simplicity. No unnecessary words.

X(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
>>four times MORE would be incorrect. 4 times more than 250 fould be 1000 + 250 = 1250.

X(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
>>four times MORE would be incorrect. 4 times more than 250 fould be 1000 + 250 = 1250.

X(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
>>four times MORE would be incorrect. 4 times more than 250 fould be 1000 + 250 = 1250.


There might be other mistakes in C, D, E, but this is how I reasoned it. 1 mistake was sufficient for discarding them.

My take is B

Competetion was between B and A for me

Let's discuss others

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount

Amount is wrong as population can be counted

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate

Meaning error their population means Montana's poplulation !!!!


(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
Same error as D

Now let's discuss A


(A) four times that of their estimated population

What does that refer ??

Probably Montana's wolf population ,

So sentence says four times Montana's wolf poplulation that montana's estimated population


WRONG COMPARISON!!!!!


B WINS ?!!!!

Posted from my mobile device

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

There is no REFERENCE for using THEIR (plural) because there is no plural number in the sentence.
ELIMINATE: A,D&E.

C:
(a) ESTIMATE =ESTIMATED AMOUNT in C (extra world without adding any value)
(b) MEANING MISMATCH
x is 4 times y (if y=1, then x=4)
X is 4 times more than Y (if y=1, then x=5)

ELIMINATE C.

Answer: B

Posted from my mobile device

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times THAT* of their estimated population in 2004.

THAT in COMPARISON QUESTION talks about NEW COPY of previous entity.

For example, SALARY of X is greater than THAT of y.
here, “THAT” indicates NEW COPY of salary (i.e. THAT says SALARY of a NEW entity).


Similarly,
Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times THAT* of their estimated population in 2004.

THAT= Montana’s wolf population (In A DIFFERENT YEAR).

Thus, the sentence becomes:
“Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times MONTANA’s WOLF POPULALTION of their estimated population in 2004.”

population ===TWICE
And really awkward
Eliminate A&E

Posted from my mobile device

(A) four times that of their estimated population
their is wrong......that is also wrong what does that refer to

(B) four times the estimated population (correct)
this answer choice is correct it correctly modify wolf population in 2013 and says it is four times the estimated population in 2004

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
the population is countable we don't use the amount for countable things

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
illogical construction.....four times more wolves than wolves population ....OUT

(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
amount is wrong.....their is also wrong

Imo, we use "times" without "as" or "than" to indicate direct multiplication

(A) four times that of their estimated population
What does "that" refer to?
"Their" is also wrong. Does not have the antecedent

(B) four times the estimated population
This is my chosen, according to my reasoning at the beginning

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
"more than" incorrect

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
again "than"
wolves than population estimate - is not parallel

(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
again "than"
"That" is also wrong

IMO
ans: B

Error: It is unclear what 'that' is referring to. If it is 'population', it doesn't make sense to say ' four times population of their estimated population in 2004'.

(A) four times that of their estimated population - Incorrect. As stated above.

(B) four times the estimated population-Correct.

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount- Incorrect. Wordy. 'population's estimated amount' could have been written as 'estimated population'. Further, 'more than' changes the meaning in comparison to what is stated in original stem.

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate- Incorrect. 'estimated population' is the correct form

(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount .-Incorrect. As in A, usage if 'that' is incorrect. 'population's estimated amount' is wordy.



Ans. B

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population - What does "that" stand for? Montana`s wolf population? If so then four times Montana`s wolf population of their estimated population? That is not correct.
(B) four times the estimated population This is correct.
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount - there is a difference between four times something and four times more than something and the sentence is definitely talking about four times something, not four time more. Also, population`s estimated amount. Seems like the entire population sat down and estimated some amount. Wrong.
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate - four times more is wrong as stated for C.
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount - everything is wrong in this sentence - four times more - not the intended meaning. that doesnt stand for anything , population`s estimated amount - population did not estimate any amount.

IMO B is the answer.

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population
Montana's wolf population cant be refered by their

(B) four times the estimated population
Hold. No issues in this.

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
this incorrectly says that the population has estimated the amount

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
Montana's wolf population cant be refered by their

(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
Montana's wolf population cant be refered by their

Correct: B

ORIGINAL SENTENCE: Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population
There's no noun in the first part of the parallelism to serve as the antecedent of "that". "their" incorrectly refers to wolf, which is singular

(B) four times the estimated population
CORRECT ANSWER. The choice is most concise among all other choices and conveys the intended meaning clearly.

(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
"the population's amount" is either redundant or nonsensical.

(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
This choice is wordy. Unnecessary repetition of the word "wolves".

(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount
This choice is wordy. In addition, there's no noun in the first part of the parallelism to serve as the antecedent of "that". Furthermore, "the population's amount" is either redundant or nonsensical.

Montana’s wolf population in 2013 numbered about 1000, four times that of their estimated population in 2004.

(A) four times that of their estimated population
(B) four times the estimated population
(C) four times more than the population's estimated amount
(D) four times more wolves than their population estimate
(E) four times more than that of their population's estimated amount

Imo B.

Correct comparison has to be there in the sentence.
Wolf is no a noun here rather "wolf population is the subject. So a singular subjects can not refer to their. So A is wrong
C incorrect comparison as. What is population's estimated amount.
D times is used for direct multiplication. The correct construction uses times as x as y.
E Just avoid it combines mistakes form D and A

Imo B correct uses direct multiplication