Amazon-Sahara

vikram4689 wrote:A recent study of changing weather conditions indicates that the Amazon now receives an average of 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara, compared to an average ratio of 5 times in the 1970s.

(A)
that the Amazon now receives an average of 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara, compared to an average ratio of 5 times

(B)
that, on average, the Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall of the Sahara, a ratio that compares to 5 times on average

(C)
that, on average, the Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall that the Sahara does, as compared to 5 times its rainfall, the average ratio

(D)
the Amazon which now receives on average 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara does, as compared to 5 times its rainfall, the average ratio

(E)
the Amazon now receiving an average of 27 times the amount of rainfall that the Sahara does, compared to the average ratio of 5 times

INDICATES require THAT, so drop D/E
A - problem in comparison (27 times MORE THAN SAHARA); average is compared with place; drop
B - problem in comparison (27 times the amount ..); 27 times of WHAT? We donot know what 27 times stand for and therefore not sure whether comparison with THE AMOUNT is appropriate!drop

C - comparison is clear AMAZON RECEIVES 27 TIMES THE AMOUNT...SAHARA DOES.

IMO C,

But IMO C changes the original meaning MORE RAINFALL (ie actually is 28 times) to just 27 TIMES. Secondly, ITS in C appears problematic (not very confident whether it refers to SAHARA'S). But still its grammatically OK.

I think the answer is A ...what is the answer

vikram4689 wrote:A recent study of changing weather conditions indicates that the Amazon now receives an average of 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara, compared to an average ratio of 5 times in the 1970s.

(A)
that the Amazon now receives an average of 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara, compared to an average ratio of 5 times

(B)
that, on average, the Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall of the Sahara, a ratio that compares to 5 times on average

(C)
that, on average, the Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall that the Sahara does, as compared to 5 times its rainfall, the average ratio

(D)
the Amazon which now receives on average 27 times more rainfall than the Sahara does, as compared to 5 times its rainfall, the average ratio

(E)
the Amazon now receiving an average of 27 times the amount of rainfall that the Sahara does, compared to the average ratio of 5 times

In A and E, a ratio of 5 times is redundant. It is sufficient to say 5 times the amount of rain; to say a RATIO of 5 times the amount of rain is redundant. Eliminate A and E.

In B, the meaning of a ratio that compares to 5 times on average in the 1970s is unclear. Eliminate B.

In D, a recent study indicates the Amazon does not convey the intended meaning. The study indicates not the Amazon itself but what the Amazon DOES: namely, that it now RECEIVES a greater amount of rain.

The best answer is C.

This SC -- and its OA -- mimic the following SC and OA from GMATPrep:

A recent review of pay scales indicates that CEO’s now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times in 1980.

A. that CEO’s now earn an average of 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, compared to a ratio of 42 times
B. that, on average, CEO’s now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, a ratio that compares to 42 times
C. that, on average, CEO’s now earn 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
D. CEO’s who now earn on average 419 times more pay than blue-collar workers, as compared to 42 times their pay, the ratio
E. CEO’s now earning an average of 419 times the pay of blue-collar workers, compared to the ratio of 42 times

doubt in B:
1) " Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall of the Sahara"- what is wrong with this modifier and how it differs in meaning from "Amazon now receives 27 times the amount of rainfall that the Sahara does"

doubt in A:
1) patanjali said "sahara, compared to an average ratio " is wrong in that a place is compared to ratio. i think above construction in A is correct because "compared to" is an adverb, not a participle, and similar construction is OK in c) because "as compared to" is also adverb and ADVERBS modify whole clause