With only 5 percent of the world's population, United States

Question

With  only 5 percent of the world's population, United States citizens conume 28 percent of its nonrenewable resources, drive more than one-third of its automobiles, and use 21 times more water per capita than Europeans do.

(A) With
(B) As
(C) Being
(D) Despite having
(E) Although accounting for


What would be the answer? Please explain.

TIA

-for

HIMALAYA · Answer

(E) Although accounting for

although is best here to show contrast.

TeHCM · Answer

Answer is E

Although accounting for is the correct modifier to modify United States citizens....

forlorn · Answer

Yes, E is the correct answer, but why choose it over D?
doesn't Despite also show a contrast?

TIA 

-for

TeHCM · Answer

The correct answer not only needs to make the correct comparisons, but it also needs to modify the subjects correctly. 

The first sentence needs to modify US Citizens. D's usage distorts the original meaning of the sentence. 

"Despite having only 5% of the world's population, United States citizens...." suggests that its the citizens that are having the world's population...which doesn't make sense.

automan · Answer

E is the best because it shows the contrast con is grammaticaly correct.

With only 5 percent of the world's population, United States

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