The use of chemical pesticides

[limestone]

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is equally extensive or more so than ten years ago.

A.
B. equal to or more extensive than ten years ago
C. as extensive as ten years ago or more
D. equal to, if not more, than ten years ago
E. as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

[spoiler]OA is A. I chose B as I didn't think that "so" can be put between "more" and "than". Can anyone give out a clear explanation?[/spoiler]

[thevoid]

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is equally extensive is more so than ten years ago.

A.
B. equal to or more extensive than ten years ago
C. as extensive as ten years ago or more
D. equal to, if not more, than ten years ago
E. as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

[spoiler]OA is A. I chose B as I didn't think that "so" can be put between "more" and "than". Can anyone give out a clear explanation?[/spoiler]

Pardon me for asking this, but whats the source, coz my ears tell me something is wrong in A,
The use{blah blah} is equally intensive is more so than {blah.....
I am little unhappy with this construction.

CAn Verbal Gurus throw some light,

I picked [spoiler]E[spoiler] , although i find it little verbose, but that seemed perfect comparison.

The use {blah blah} as extensive as it was ten years ago......[/spoiler]

[niksworth]

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is equally extensive is more so than ten years ago.

A.
B. equal to or more extensive than ten years ago
C. as extensive as ten years ago or more
D. equal to, if not more, than ten years ago
E. as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

[spoiler]OA is A. I chose B as I didn't think that "so" can be put between "more" and "than". Can anyone give out a clear explanation?[/spoiler]

Are you sure that OA is A? Please check for errors in transcription. Please state the source as well.

[limestone]

Even I am not sure about this sentence. I came up with B. However, OA is A. This maybe a sentence in SC1000 ( actually speaking, I'm not sure about the source. The adjacent sentences are from SC 1000, then I guess it is too. This piece of material is an unofficial source.)

Anyway, just ignore the OA when you approach this problem. I will appreciate if anyone/ expert can give out a solid explanation.

Have checked the question, and edited "is" into "or". Sorry for my mistyping.

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is equally extensive or more so than ten years ago.

A.
B. equal to or more extensive than ten years ago
C. as extensive as ten years ago or more
D. equal to, if not more, than ten years ago
E. as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

[hitesht]

I went with A when i solved it. I eliminated D and E straight away because they change the meaning of the original sentence. The sentence says "the usage is equally extensive or more". D & E go towards "if not more".
Out of A,B,C...A is the least wordy and least redundant.

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is equally extensive or more so than ten years ago.

A.
B. equal to or more extensive than ten years ago
C. as extensive as ten years ago or more
D. equal to, if not more, than ten years ago
E. as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

[spoiler]OA is A. I chose B as I didn't think that "so" can be put between "more" and "than". Can anyone give out a clear explanation?[/spoiler]