Solutions

Get detailed explanations to advanced GMAT questions.

Question

For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago.

Option A:

which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three- quarters only a decade ago

Option B:

which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters

Option C:

and that amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters

Option D:

amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three quarters a decade ago

Option E:

amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters

Difficulty Level

Easy

Solution

Option D is the correct answer.

Option Analysis

Concept tested: Modifiers, Pronouns.

A) Inappropriate usage of the word “Which” – Seems to refer to California.

B) Same as A.

C) Inappropriate usage of the word “and” and “they”. The conjunction splits the sentence unnecessarily into two and the pronoun doesn’t have a clear antecedent.

D) Correct Answer

E) Inappropriate usage of the pronoun “it” as there is no clear antecedent.