earths crust

[phelps]

168. Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West
(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West



OA D

[walkingbanana]

a) The pronoun "it" in "it does the west" is ambiguous. Logically refers to earthquake but should be devastation
b) 100 times changes the meaning of the original intent. Implies an earthquake actually occurring 100 times instead of 100 times greater than
c) same as b
d) only answer choice leftover. Correctly compares the two occurrences without changing original intent of the sentence.
e)same as b

answer: D

[thetrystero]

168. Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
"there" -> "an earthquake of given magnitude"
"it" -> eastern US

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
there->an earthquake of a given magnitude

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West
again, wrong reference for "there"

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
puts object "eastern US" close to the pronoun "there". refers to the correct agent of devastation for both east and west viz. the earthquake.

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
it->area

My Answer: D

[hetavdave]

It's D for sure.

"crust is more solid there and"

There should refer United States hence leaves us with choice D and E. E is wordy and awkward.

[pops]

IMO D

because rest all the options suggests that 100 times more area is affected.. actually it should be same (measure wise) area affected 100 times more..

correct me if i am wrong !

[goelmohit2002]

168. Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West
(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West



OA D

IMO "D" is best because:

Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
There is no clear referent for it. "it" says exact same quake will happen.
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
There is no clear referent for it. "it" says exact same quake will happen.

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West
100 times the area...than....is wrong idiom....100 times more area than is correct idiom...

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
Correct
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
Occured is wrong tense.