This is GMATPREP question

If current trends continue, by the year 2010 carbon emissions in the United States will soar to a level more than one-third higher than were those in 1990, according to official projections.
A. will soar to a level more than one-third higher than were those
B. will soar to a level more than one-third higher than that
C. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than is was
D. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than those
E. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than they were

I chose E. So what is wrong with answer "E"? What is the correct answer. How to decide between will and would.Thanks

I chose D over E. not E because we are comparing levels of carbon emissions in US, not US to another country. So when comparing one of X to another of X, those is appropriate

Do you know what is error in "A" . Also OA is "B". So Why B is correct and others are wrong.

Here the rule of if clause


real condition

if < present tense> , then clause < future tense or present>

Here would is wrong that comes '

Hypothetical if < were >, then would ....

if < had been> , then would + present perfect

so C D and E rules out.

Now A is wrong as those can to refer carbon emissions or current trends that is illogical ; B is correct captures the meaning " that refers to a level"

you need 'will', not 'would'. 'would' is used if the hypothetical is in the past tense, while 'will' (future tense) is used if the hypothetical is in the present tense (as is the case here).
compare: if you tell that joke again, i will punch you.
that takes care of the last three answer choices.

as far as deciding a vs. b, just look at the pronoun that/those: it refers to the singular noun level. therefore, you must choose that, which is singular, so b > a.

also, the presence of a verb in choice a creates bad parallelism, because 'a level' does not have a verb. the two parts of the comparison must have the same grammatical structure; if the initial part (a level) doesn't have a verb, the second part can't have one either.

Hi Ron,

I agree B is the correct choice . I chose B . But i have a doubt in your explanation.

How do u say that is singular ? "That" is just restrictive phrase. That can be used to refer to a plural as well.

eg : The total number of eggs that were not broken during transit was small.

Here that restricts the plural eggs right ?? (that was my own eg .. i hope i am right)

Regards,
Vignesh

"also, the presence of a verb in choice a creates bad parallelism, because 'a level' does not have a verb. the two parts of the comparison must have the same grammatical structure; if the initial part (a level) doesn't have a verb, the second part can't have one either. "

Vignesh, The usage is "that" in your sentence is different. I think if you had chosen an example where you compare, it would have been more clear.

The total number of eggs spoiled today were more than those spoiled yesterday.

The mental ability of Michael is more than that of Steve.

The emission level tommorrow will be more than that in 1990.

in your usage, 'that' isn't being used to STAND for a noun in a parallel construction, as it was in the originally posted sentence. in your usage, 'that' is being used in a different way: namely, to introduce a relative clause that modifies 'eggs'.

if you were going to use a pronoun in a parallel construction, to stand for 'eggs', then you'd have to choose a plural pronoun:
the eggs at this market are fresher than those at the other market.
in this sentence, you can't use 'that' to stand for 'eggs'. your sentence is of a different variety altogether; while correct, it's irrelevant to this particular discussion.