SC question: 110 millions dogs and cats ...

Question

Hi, all,
Here is the question:

There are over 110 million dogs and cats in the United States,  which is more than the population of any Western European country. 

A) which is more than the population of any Western European country.

B) which are more than the population of any Western European country.

C) being more than the population of any Western European country.

D) more than any Western European country in population.

E) more than in any Western European country by population.

What is the correct answer and why? Please explain with grammar.

Thanks!

rahulraao · Answer

D it is!

A is wrong coz the way which is used.

B is wrong coz we are saying 110 million is more...so singular verb is needed

C is wrong coz its not the right structure....there are ......being

E is wrong coz it changes the meaning....we are saying cats and dogs are more than the population of any european country, and not US cats and dog population is more than the european cats and dogs population! Also, more than in.....wrong usage!

So that leaves with D - though im not totally satisfied with D's structure!

HIMALAYA · Answer

D. seems the question is skillfully remodeled from the OG question (do ot remember exactly the one).

any source??????

anandsebastin · Answer

Just to add my thoughts, in A, it is not clear whether "which" refers to United States or the 110 million dogs and cats. D with everyone else :wink:

gmat2006 · Answer

Thanks for your inputs.

According to the book, the correct answer is A!!

I don't understand why A is correct.

The source of this question is ARCO "Master GMAT CAT 2004". #38 in the diagnostic test.

I believe this question is also in the latest edition. Can someone look it up to see if they change the answer. 

According to my book, it says D is wrong because it makes an illogical comparison.

chet719 · Answer

I picked A...I don't see how D can possibly be the right answer. The ending of the phrase in choice D, "in population" is placed in an awkward position in the sentance.

The use of the word "which" can be used in non-restrictive cases such as: 

"The toughest intramural fight of all for Clinton was the North American Free Trade Agreement,  which  he undertook a full year before the 1994 election." 

I found this rule on the internet. See if it helps.

"When information is NOT critical to the understanding of the main clause, use WHICH as the appropriate relative pronoun and set the information off by commas. The clause set off by commas is referred to as a nonrestrictive dependent clause."

sgrover · Answer

A it is...
C - Wrong. 
D and E - Wrong comparisions. It is not clear that population of cats and gods are compared in this choice. 
Between A and B : We are comparing population hence "is " not "are.

gmat2006 · Answer

thanks for your answers.

But how do you know it is comparing "population"?? What is the "which" modifying? There is no "population" before the "which".

Thanks.

huskers · Answer

There are over 110 million dogs and cats in the United States, which is more than the population of any Western European country.

If there is a comma after "which" it should refer to the one before the comma. In the above line which referes to United States which is incoorrect. "which" should refer to population.

I will go with D.

tgmbithotu · Answer

Break it down to the basics.  The sentence compares the pet population to the people population.  (Yes, the people part is presumed. Bad question, IMHO.)

D - Break it down to the basics, "more than any country". This compares  pet population to country . Wrong.
*Note: If D was rephrased as "more than the population of any country", the comparison would be correct.
E - Break it down to the basics, "more than in any country". This compares  pet population to pet population . Wrong.
C - Just sounds wrong. Who talks like this??

That leaves A & B - a classic is-vs-are dilemma. Remember, it's the pet population we're comparing, not the dogs, cats, states, etc. So, break it down to the basics: "100 million" (or "the pet population") IS more than the people population. 

 A

tgmbithotu · Answer

Quick follow up...

Only E is affected if the "people population" presumption from my previous post is false.

E works fine if comparing pet population to pet population ... but the extra "by population" on the end is redundant. So, E is out b/c it's just plain clunky. (How's that for an official rule?)

bonhonina · Answer

I think the answer is B. First of all, are is needed over is b/c we are talking plural "dogs and cats". Second, "which" begins the relative clause that refers to dogs and cats, and not the preposition "in the United States" Any thoughts...

SC question: 110 millions dogs and cats ...

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