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For comparison we need than so eliminate d & e
In choice C it refers back to population so pick C
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C is the correct choice.
First examining the choices, we can eliminate D and E as we need a "than to follow larger" here.

Secondly, we are referring to a specific time instant in history : the beginningof the century. So we need an "at" . (if the construction was without "the" : beginning of century, "in" would have been more appropriate). So we can eliminate A.

Lastly we need a singluar verb with population. Hence can eliminate B.


Left with C :).


Crick
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tingjojo
Can anyone elaborate a little bit on the answer?
The herring gull population in the North America is now thirty times larger than in the beginning of the century.

A. than in
B. than they were at
C. than it was at
D. compared to that of
E. compared to what they were at

"at the begining " is idiomatic. so, "in" in A is wrong.
"they" in B is wrong because it refer to nothing
"compared..." needs a noun . there is no such nouns. D and E are gone
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tingjojo
The herring gull population in the North America is now thirty times larger than in the beginning of the century.

A. than in
B. than they were at
C. than it was at
D. compared to that of
E. compared to what they were at

Main Issues:


1) Parallelism: X & Y should be parallel.
2) Idiom: Correct idiom is "larger than". Incorrect: "larger compared to".
3) Comparison: Population is being compared for 2 different times.

A. than in - Wrong: Proposition "at" should be used instead of "in".
B. than they were at - Wrong: Plural "they" can't be used to refer to singular "Population".
C. than it was at - Correct
D. compared to that of - Wrong: 1) Idiom 2) Don't need another copy "that". 3) Distorted Meaning: "population of the beginning..."
E. compared to what they were at - Wrong: Idiom 2) Plural "they" can't be used to refer to singular "Population".
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Manhattan SC book suggests that:
If you want to relate the quantities by multiplication, use times and as…as together:
Right: The man is FIVE TIMES AS OLD AS his grandson.
Wrong: The man is FIVE TIMES OLDER THAN his grandson

Is this correct to use "thirty times larger" or should it be "thirty times as big/larger as"?
Tks
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the only error in choice A is "in". we have to use "at the beginning". this is purely idiomatic.

if we change "in" into "at", choice a is more consice than choice c.
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when making comparison and ellipsis, keep the tense of mood (negative or positive" of the first clause. if you dont remember this point, you can make wrong ellipsis.
choice a means
than the population IS in the beginning. this is wrong. IS is wrong, WAS is correct.
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The herring gull population in the North America is now thirty times larger than in the beginning of the century.

Quote:
(A) than in
Lets simplify the sentence.
Population [ in North America is now thirty times ] larger than [ population in the beginning of the century]
in this option, just by saying "than in", we cannot be sure what is being compared.
Quote:
(B) than they were at
"they" is a plural pronoun which can't logically refer back to anything here.
Quote:
(C) than it was at
[Population in America is now thirty times] larger than [ population was at the beginning of the century]
Clean. No errors.
Quote:
(D) compared to that of
larger than is correct. Who says larger compared to???
Quote:
(E) compared to what they were at
same issue as above.
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sayiurway
Manhattan SC book suggests that:
If you want to relate the quantities by multiplication, use times and as…as together:
Right: The man is FIVE TIMES AS OLD AS his grandson.
Wrong: The man is FIVE TIMES OLDER THAN his grandson

Is this correct to use "thirty times larger" or should it be "thirty times as big/larger as"?
Tks

Please, can someone answer this question?
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Hi team,

In option A why can't we assume that the below has been omitted in the sentence.

The herring gull population in the North America is now thirty times larger than (the population was )in the beginning of the century.

In option C, does the pronoun "IT" refers to the current population?

Thanks
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