Beavers

Hi BlueDragon2010,

This SC is based on a couple of standard grammar rules:

1) Modification - The opening phrase and comma (before the underlined portion begins) is a common way to test Modification. The opening phrase describes what comes directly after the comma - in this case, the reference to "beavers" describes "their numbers." Eliminate A and E.

2) Comparison - Comparison rules dictate that we must compare LIKE things. So if we're going to do a comparison, we must compare "number of beavers" to "number of beavers." Unfortunately, the words after the underlined portion are "the eighteenth century", so a direct comparison of "number" to "number" isn't possible. We'll need to choose an answer that describes how the number has "declined" since the eighteenth century. Eliminate B and D.

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich