Advancement of Teaching

ColumbiaVC wrote:E

How is A,B,C and D eliminated?

"equal to" is used when we are talking in a strict sense e.g 2+2 is equal to 4
"equivalent" is used when we want to say two amount are almost the same not exactly identical ==> between choices b and c, I will choose b because this sentence exactly compare people who enrolled (it is about people not the number of enrollment)while choice c compare people with enrollment...

Ans: B

OA: E

According to a study by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, companies in the United States are providing job training and general education for nearly eight million people, about equivalent to the enrollment of the nation’s four-year colleges and universities.

(A) equivalent to the enrollment of
(B) the equivalent of those enrolled in
(C) equal to those who are enrolled in
(D) as many as the enrollment of
(E) as many as are enrolled in: Best Usage

I could reach E but I really am not able to say why I eliminate the previous ones.

Experts???