Microcomputer for every pupil. Comparison

[LulaBrazilia]

A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago.

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were

(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were

(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

[Patrick_GMATFix]

Comparisons can be tricky; we must ensure that logical things are compared, and ideally that they are compared in parallel ways. Subject-verb agreement ("there is one" vs "there are one") as well as idioms ("as may as" vs "as many than") are also tested. I go through the question in detail in the full solution below (taken from the GMATFix App).



-Patrick