Never before had the gardening crew

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Never before had the gardening crew harvested so many carrots at once as it had in the fall of 2006.

A. so many carrots at once as it had in
B. at once as many carrots as
C. so many carrots at once as that it had gardened in
D. as many carrots at once as it did in
E. so many carrots at once as it did in

What is wrong with the other Options?

OA D

[vaibhav101]

When we compare something, the idiom expressions are-
so X as Y
as X as X
in this statement we are comparing the present harvest with the harvest in the fall of 2006 , that is we are comparing the harvest done in two different years. (as X as X)
We are NOT COMPARING two different things (so X as Y)
so, the only answer choice with idiom expression (as X as X) is D which is the correct answer.
this eliminates options A & E
for option C the idiom expression should be so..... as or so......that, the use of so........as that is wrong.
now answer choice B changes the meaning of the sentence so it is wrong.

[BTGmoderatorDC]

When we compare something, the idiom expressions are-
so X as Y
as X as X
in this statement we are comparing the present harvest with the harvest in the fall of 2006 , that is we are comparing the harvest done in two different years. (as X as X)
We are NOT COMPARING two different things (so X as Y)
so, the only answer choice with idiom expression (as X as X) is D which is the correct answer.
this eliminates options A & E
for option C the idiom expression should be so..... as or so......that, the use of so........as that is wrong.
now answer choice B changes the meaning of the sentence so it is wrong.

Thanks a lot!