SC - Soaring television

[schumi_gmat]

Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been

What is the correct Answer? I thought it was A since we were comparing the spending.

[gmat009]

IMO C

[niraj_a]

A or B, and I choose B in the end.

[agoyal2]

I would go with B..

[anju]

i'll go with B too.
Wht's the OA?

[schumi_gmat]

OA is C

[schumi_gmat]

gmat009, why the answer is C?

[mbamike]

I would have also selected either A or B. But knowing the OA now, here is my reasoning why it is 'C'.

The subject "Soaring television costs" is plural, therefore, the pronoun reference in the second clause should be plural too. Television costs are in "some" proportion....although proportion by itself is singular but the pronoun in this example refers to the "television costs" instead of "proportion".

[niraj_a]

i don't completely agree mbamike.

what is the source of this question schumi? if it's 1000 sets then i probably wouldn't waste too much time on trying to answer their questions.

[schumi_gmat]

Source is paper test

[niraj_a]

man, wow

this is a tricky one