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chetan2u
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree is several thousand dollars per year higher than somebody with a high school diploma only.

What is being compared?? :- the average income

(A) than somebody with a high school diploma only
Average income is compared with somebody

(B) than that for somebody with only a high school diploma
THAT stands for ' the average income' and the choice correctly compares the average income of two groups

(C) than for somebody with a high school diploma only
wrong comparison

(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only
Illogical... IT stands for 'the average income ..... degree'

(E) that that of somebody having only a high school diploma
Parallelism issue


B

Hi chetan2u!

Are you sure that in D "it" stands for "average income...degree"? Seems that "it"="that" and if you are right than B doesn't make sense :-)
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chetan2u
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree is several thousand dollars per year higher than somebody with a high school diploma only.

What is being compared?? :- the average income

(A) than somebody with a high school diploma only
Average income is compared with somebody

(B) than that for somebody with only a high school diploma
THAT stands for ' the average income' and the choice correctly compares the average income of two groups

(C) than for somebody with a high school diploma only
wrong comparison

(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only
Illogical... IT stands for 'the average income ..... degree'

(E) that that of somebody having only a high school diploma
Parallelism issue


B

Hi chetan2u!

Are you sure that in D "it" stands for "average income...degree"? Seems that "it"="that" and if you are right than B doesn't make sense :-)


Hi..
When we are comparing, look at the portion that is common between the two and then work out comparison..

In D
(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only..
It IS for somebody..
Look for IS in the non underlined portion..
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree IS several thousand dollars per year
So IT equals " The average.....arts degree"

But in B THAT is before FOR
And what is there before FOR in non underlined portion- the average income
So THAT equals " the average income"

Hope it clears the ambiguity
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Are you sure that in D "it" stands for "average income...degree"? Seems that "it"="that" and if you are right than B doesn't make sense :-)

Check the parallelism issue in the sentence Answer must be (B)

The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree is several thousand dollars per year higher than
that for somebody with only a high school diploma.

Hope this helps...
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Between B and D, in B "that" refers to different sets of average incomes, but in D "it" refers to the same set of average income, with "it" used as a personal pronoun. Hence, B is correct.
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Bunuel
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree is several thousand dollars per year higher than somebody with a high school diploma only.


(A) than somebody with a high school diploma only

(B) than that for somebody with only a high school diploma

(C) than for somebody with a high school diploma only

(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only

(E) that that of somebody having only a high school diploma

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:



As it stands, this sentence cuts out too much when it uses ellipsis in than somebody. It needs to refer back to the average salary (either directly or with the pronoun that) and to repeat the verb is or the preposition for in order to adequately recall the first part of the sentence. Eliminate (A) and (C). Eliminate (D) for using the vague pronoun it rather than the correct that. Finally, eliminate (E) either because of should be for in order to parallel for a person or because having is awkward. (B) is correct.
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chetan2u
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chetan2u
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree is several thousand dollars per year higher than somebody with a high school diploma only.

What is being compared?? :- the average income

(A) than somebody with a high school diploma only
Average income is compared with somebody

(B) than that for somebody with only a high school diploma
THAT stands for ' the average income' and the choice correctly compares the average income of two groups

(C) than for somebody with a high school diploma only
wrong comparison

(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only
Illogical... IT stands for 'the average income ..... degree'

(E) that that of somebody having only a high school diploma
Parallelism issue


B

Hi chetan2u!

Are you sure that in D "it" stands for "average income...degree"? Seems that "it"="that" and if you are right than B doesn't make sense :-)


Hi..
When we are comparing, look at the portion that is common between the two and then work out comparison..

In D
(D) than it is for somebody with a high school diploma only..
It IS for somebody..
Look for IS in the non underlined portion..
The average income for a person with a bachelor of arts degree IS several thousand dollars per year
So IT equals " The average.....arts degree"

But in B THAT is before FOR
And what is there before FOR in non underlined portion- the average income
So THAT equals " the average income"

Hope it clears the ambiguity

Yes right! Thanks for another great explanation!
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