rate of = frequency or speed
（Compared to: rates for = prices)
"
the rate of people consuming fatty foods" is ambiguous. You may read this phrase aloud using different punctuations and find out.
Possible meaning A:the rate of PEOPLE (consuming fatty foods)"the rate of people who consume fatty foods"
Here "rate" means 比率，for example 50%
Possible meaning B:
the rate of (people CONSUMING fatty foods)"the rate at which people consume fatty foods" or "the rate of consumption of fatty foods"
this phrase refers to 人们消化脂肪的速度
I think the correct choice should resolve this ambiguity.
the rate of people consuming fatty foods is about the same in France and the United States
不说别的问题，只说这里的"the rate of people consuming fatty food"，到底是理解成“人们消耗多脂肪食物的速率”还是“（消耗多脂肪的）人的速率”啊？~就是不知道可不可以这样表达？求教NN~~-- by 会员 半阙 (2012/1/24 15:01:07)
-- by 会员 babybearmm (2012/1/24 16:23:45)
Just come across this post... Ron did a better job than I did.
http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/although-people-in-france-consume-fatty-foods-at-a-rate-t5712.html
"of people consuming" is incorrect; you can't write "of + NOUN + VERBing" if the action of VERBing is the focus of the preposition.
see here:
post18293.html#p18293also, the next poster is correct: choice (e) inadvertently states that "the rate of people" is consuming fatty foods. that doesn't make any sense.
-- by 会员 babybearmm (2012/1/25 4:10:42)
