sharmaprashant19 wrote:
mikemcgarry wrote:
vishu1414 wrote:
Although blue herons can still be found along the Maine coast, their population has declined dramatically when compared to the 1970’s, a period in which there were fewer bald eagles competing with them for food and nesting sites.
(A) their population has declined dramatically when compared to the 1970s
(B) their population has declined dramatically compared with the 1970s
(C) their populations have declined dramatically since the 1970s
(D) their populations have declined in comparison to those of the 1970s
(E) their population has declined in comparison with that of the 1970s
(A) their population has declined dramatically when compared to the 1970s
(B) their population has declined dramatically compared with the 1970s
(C) their populations have declined dramatically since the 1970s
(D) their populations have declined in comparison to those of the 1970s
(E) their population has declined in comparison with that of the 1970s
In this one, the comparison is problematic. We can logical compare the 1970's to another time period, but here the comparison is between the 1970's and the implicit idea of "now" --- this happens all the time in colloquial English, but the GMAT doesn't like this. The GMAT wants explicit comparisons only.
The only answer that completely avoids the awkward comparison is (C), which deftly rephrases the information in a logical and grammatically correct way. Choice (C) stands out as much better than any of the other answers.
Hi,
Thanks for the explanation!!
But I still have one doubt in option C. Don't you feel that in option c the word "populations" should be "population" . Why a pronoun form is used.
Hi sharmaprashant19
Population can be used as plural (populations) or singular. "Populations" means more than one population, for example: the population of blue herons living in the north of Maine coast, the other population of blue herons living in the south. If you say population (singular), you mean all the blue herons of a particular area. (They live together).
More example:
Tiger populations all around the world are decreasing. The intended meaning is that tiger population in India, tiger population in China, and tiger population in other countries are decreasing.
Hope it helps.