GMAT Prep SC - sharp rise in the stock market

[khojason]

The reasons for yesterday's sharp rise in the stock market were much the same as that behind last week's rally: a surge in the economy to a 5.6 percent annual growth rate and improved corporate earnings balanced by the lack of signs of inflationary pressure.

A. that
B. those
C. what was
D. for that
E. they were

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]



Can anyone explain why Option C is incorrect? If "were" is used instead of "was", is it a correct option?

[saurabhmahajan]

according to me B is correct becoz those fits well with plural " reasons "
Similarly "what was " does not agree to plural " reasons " (were is plural)

experts please correct me if i am wrong.

[Kajiabeat]

The reasons for yesterday's sharp rise in the stock market were much the same as that behind last week's rally: a surge in the economy to a 5.6 percent annual growth rate and improved corporate earnings balanced by the lack of signs of inflationary pressure.

A. that
B. those
C. what was
D. for that
E. they were

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]



Can anyone explain why Option C is incorrect? If "were" is used instead of "was", is it a correct option?

Can any expert shed some light on this question? I'm also not sure about it.

[smackmartine]

Tricky!!!. From now on , this concept will not be tricky any more! :)

The reasons for yesterday's sharp rise in the stock market were much the same as that behind last week's rally: a surge in the economy to a 5.6 percent annual growth rate and improved corporate earnings balanced by the lack of signs of inflationary pressure.

A. that (no proper referent)
B. those (implies that those refers to the "reasons" )
C. what was events not compared
D. for that (no proper referent)
E. they were (reason same as that for B)

However,when an (specific)event is compared , the pronoun should refer to the event.
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Let me provide you guys with a construction similar to C: This is from GMATPrep too.

There are hopeful signs that we are shifting away from our heavy reliance on fossil fuels: more than ten times as much energy is generated through wind power now than it was in 1990
A) generated through wind power now than it was
B) generated through wind power now as it was
C) generated through wind power now as was the case
D) now generated through wind power as it was
E) now generated through wind power than was the case

Here also , its not just the energy which is being compared. Instead , energy that is generated through wind power now is compared to energy that was generated through wind power in 1990
which can only be a case (event), and hence C is correct answer.

[bubbliiiiiiii]

Just wanted to put my presence here so that I get updates on this question.

[smackmartine]

My apologies. I have updated my comments and provided a sentence similar to option C

[meenakshimiyer]

"As" as a preposition: In this case two nouns are compared (generally in the idiomatic form X same as Y)
"The reasons that.... are same as those...." option B - "reasons" compared with "those" ("reasons").
Hence, B is the answer.