The United States' trade deficit with China rose in 2003 to $123 billi

Question

The United States' trade deficit with China rose in 2003 to $123 billion,  which is 17 percent more than the previous year  and more than 10 times the U.S.-China trade deficit in 1998.

A. which is 17 percent more than the previous year 
B. which is 17 percent higher than it was the previous year 
C. 17 percent higher than the previous year's figure was
D. an amount that is 17 percent more than the previous year was
E. an amount that is 17 percent more than the previous year's figure

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Abhishek009 · Answer

(A) , + which refers to $123 billion hence incorrect.
(B) , + which refers to $123 billion hence incorrect.
(C) 17 percent higher than...... incorrect , as it compares $123 billion to previous year.
(D) more than the previous year was - Incorrect as $123 billion is compared to previous year.
 (E) An amount - refers to $123 billion and previous year's figure refers to trade deficit figure, flawless, hence this must be correct Answer.

Karan0912 · Answer

E is correct because it avoids the modifier error in A, B & C. Option D has meaning error in terms of what is being compared.

CountingBack · Answer

Shouldnt it be Higher over more?

Abhishek009 · Answer

PLease refer this discussion here : https://gmatclub.com/forum/higher-than- ... -3251.html Hope this helps

prfs11 · Answer

The question seems flawed. I have never read "more amount" anywhere. "Greater amount", sure. Never "more amount".

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(E)

Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors

Because the relative pronoun “which” refers to the noun that comes immediately before it, this means the underlined segment illogically compares a sum of money, “$123 billion,” to “the previous year.” The correct answer must compare a sum and a sum, not a sum and a year.

Step 2: Scan and Group the Answer Choices

(A) and (B) both start with “which.” (C) leaves out “which,” while (D) and (E) substitute “an amount that” for “which.”

Step 3: Eliminate Choices Until Only One Remains

Eliminate (A) because of its illogical comparison. (B) also bungles the comparison, thanks to its careless use of the slippery pronoun “it.” Because “which” refers to “123 billion,” (B) seems to say, nonsensically, that $123 billion is 17 percent higher than $123 billion was the previous year. (D) also fails to fix the illogical comparison; it compares “an amount” to “the previous year.” That leaves only (C) and (E). Both of these choices correctly compare two amounts of money. However, (C) adds “was” at the end, which is unnecessary and not parallel with the last part of the sentence, which does not use the verb. (E), which introduces no new errors, is the correct answer. Read it back into the sentence to confirm:

The United States’ trade deficit with China rose in 2003 to $123 billion,  an amount that is 17 percent higher than the previous year’s figure  and more than ten times the U.S.-China trade deficit in 1998.

The United States' trade deficit with China rose in 2003 to $123 billi

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The United States' trade deficit with China rose in 2003 to $123 billi

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