A large rise in the number..

[figs]

A large rise in the number of housing starts in the coming year should boost new construction dollars by several billion dollars, making the construction industry's economic health much more robust than five years ago.

A. making the construction industry's economic health much more robust than five years ago

B.ind make the construction industry's economic health much more robust than five years ago

C.making the construction industry's economic health much more robust than it was five years ago

D.to make the construction industry's economic health much more robust than five years ago

E.in making the construction industry's economic health much more robust that it was five years ago

[Vemuri]

IMO C

The introduction of gerund immediately after the comma is correct. Also, the comparison "than it was five years ago" is correct as it compares the current construction industry's economic health to what it was 5 years ago.

[figs]

OA:C