Sentence Correction

The infant mortality rate has decreased steadily over the past year several decades and is now at a lower rate than ever before.

a. same
b. now lower than
c. now a lower rate than
d. presently lower than it was
e. presently lower than the rate was

OA : B

I want to know why is D wrong. Shouldn't the verb tense be explicitly stated when there is a change in tense of comparison. Here we are comparing present rate with past rate (ever before) so shouldn't the correct answer be D;

Please help.

Thanks

The infant mortality rate has decreased steadily over the past year several decades and is not at a lower rate than ever before.

a. now at a lower rate than
b. now lower than
c. now a lower rate than
d. presently lower than it was
e. presently lower than the rate was

A- say 'not' I am not sure if it is a typo error because all others have 'now'
I will assume A: now at a lower rate . We dont need to say lower rate as it is redundant
We can say the rate is lower not ' a rate is at a lower rate' - A - wrong
B- looks ok
C- for the same reason as in A
D, E looks ok but are wordier than B
IMO:B
I feel B is clear and unambigous we dont have anything else that causing ambiguity

B: The infant mortality rate ..is now lower than ever before
The comparison is between now and before for the same entity [infant mortality rate ], so I think we dont have to repeat.We dont have any other noun which can be compared to infant mortality rate

D, E are also ok except that they are wordy
Also 'now' is better than 'presently'(wordy)

I understand you logic abcgmat. But I am referencing to this concept:

Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than they were last year
--> correct
BUT
Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last year
--> incorrect

Source: https://www.beatthegmat.com/comparisons- ... 66230.html

Hi Sui Generis,

My 2 cents,

Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last year. ---> Correct.

Hope this resolves your query.

I agree with Bubliiiiiiiiiii
Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last year - is correct
Also it Ron mentioned if there is a answer choice with tense shift then that is preferred