OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPTQuote:
Over the last five years, the unemployment rate in the country has been as high, and in some cities even higher than, what it was during the Great Depression.
• THAT vs. IT
The sentence compares the unemployment rate at two different times.
Because the two unemployment rates are different (they are both unemployment rates but they are not the same unemployment rate), the correct pronoun is
that and not
it.
→
It corresponds with exactly one antecedent, in this case,
the unemployment rate over the last five years.We cannot simply stick that precise noun into a different time period.
→
That makes a "copy" of "unemployment rate." This copy that allows us to use the pronoun
that in a different context.
I discuss the way in which that can be a "copy"
pronoun on this thread,
in my post, here.
• IDIOM
AS . . . AS
The correct idiomatic structure is
as high as.
Quote:
A) as high [AS], and in some cities even higher than, what it was
• the pronoun IT is incorrect
→ The use of
it to refer to employment rate is incorrect, as I discussed above.
Try substituting "the unemployment rate over the last five years" into the word "it."
Substitution:
Over the last five years, the unemployment rate in the country has been as high [AS], and in some cities even higher than, what [the unemployment rate over the last five years] was during the Great Depression.That sentence makes no sense.
• IDIOM
The correct idiomatic structure is
as high as and not
as high (you need the second "AS").
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
B) so high, and in some cities even higher than, that
• IDIOM
The correct idiom is
as high
as and not
so high.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
C) as high as, and in some cities even higher than, it did
• Just as is the case in option A, we need the pronoun
that, not
it ELIIMINATE C
Quote:
D) as high, and in some cities even higher than, that
• IDIOM
The correct idiomatic structure is
as high as and not simply
as high.
You need a second
as.• Just below the prompt I wrote notes about this issue.
We need
as high asELIMINATE D
Quote:
E) as high as, and in some cities even higher than, that
• I do not see any errors
•
that correctly refers to
unemployment rate• in this option, the correct idiomatic structure is used:
as high as. KEEP
The answer is E.
COMMENTSSharmaRahul10201 and
vipulgoel , welcome to SC Butler.
zhanbo , interesting question.
Yes, you could use "what it was" rather than "that."
I'll bet that you can come up with a good explanation about why
what it was will work but the lone pronoun
it will not work.
Kudos to all (even wrong answers).
Stay safe.