The automobile company announced that the average price of next year’s models would decrease four-tenths of one percent, amounting to about $72, as compared with comparably equipped cars and trucks this year.
(A) The automobile company announced that the average price of next year’s models would decrease four-tenths of one percent, amounting to about $72, as compared with comparably equipped cars and trucks this year.
This is an incorrect answer as avg. price of next year's model is compared with cars and trucks. Only logical comparison should be either between prices of
cars & trucks for this year and next year or between the cars & trucks themselves.
(B) The automobile company announced that the average price of next year’s cars and trucks would decrease four-tenths of one percent, or about $72, from that of comparably equipped models this year.
This is the correct answer as it logically compares avg. price of next year’s cars and trucks with that of this year. Here "that of" refers to avg. price thus
showing an logical comparison.
(C) The automobile company announced that there would be a decrease of four-tenths of one percent in next year’s models price, or about $72, below this year’s comparably equipped cars and trucks.
This is also an incorrect answer as it compares decrease of price in next year model's to cars and trucks itself. Also decrease and below are redundant.
(D) Compared to comparably equipped models this year, the automobile company announced that the average price of next year’s cars and trucks would decrease about $72, less by four-tenths of one percent.
This is also incorrect. Same mistake as it compares this year's models with avg. price of next year's cars and trucks.
(E) Contrasted with comparably equipped cars and trucks of this year, the automobile company announced that the average price of next year’s models would decrease about $72, or four-tenths of one percent.
This is an incorrect answer. Same mistake as in option D.
Overall only option B shows logical comparison and thus is clearly the correct answer.