SC

[mandeepak]

Most of Portugal’s 250,000 university students boycotted classes in a one-day strike to
protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher
education, previously paying $7 per year.
A.year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year
B.year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per
year
C.year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education
D.year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required
previously
E.year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher
education

[Danielle]

D is the best answer choice.

First off, the first part of the underlined portion in the example sentence is fine. The problem is how to correctly tack on that part about the new law passed being different from the 7$ per year students paid previously.

A -- awkward, just sticking it on the end there
B -- 'for which was previously paid' makes no sense at all. If anything, it would be "which was previously 7$"
C-- same as B. If that one were to be used, it would have to be "compared to 7$ per year previously"
E-- "as opposed to..." should be separated out by commas because its a dependent phrase.