is at least ten times what they were....

[pzazz12]

The number of people jogging in city parks, in playgrounds, and even in the streets, is at least ten times what they were only five years ago.

(A) is at least ten times what they were

(B) are at least ten times what they were

(C) is at least ten times what it was

(D) are at least ten times what it was

(E) is at least ten times what the numbers were

[kvcpk]

The number of people jogging in city parks, in playgrounds, and even in the streets, is at least ten times what they were only five years ago.

(A) is at least ten times what they were

(B) are at least ten times what they were

(C) is at least ten times what it was

(D) are at least ten times what it was

(E) is at least ten times what the numbers were

Get rid of the prepositional phrases:
The number of people jogging is at least ten times what they were only five years ago.

The number of people IS....
A number of people ARE....

Hence we need IS.

"The number of people" is singular.

Hence we need IT WAS

Hence pick C

Hope this helps!!

[Yanat]

IMO it is C,

The number of people and hence singular and so 'is' and then the number of people at one stage is compared with the number of people in another stage in time. So the 'it' takes care of that and 'was' takes care of the past tense.

[ankurmit]

IMO C

[mj78ind]

with C. Agree with kvcpk .....