大家快进来看看这道题

24. Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during two decades, stringent rationing and planned distribution have allowed the People抯 Republic of China to ensure nutritional levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population.

(A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during

(B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in

(C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over

(D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during

(E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for

Shouldn't "People's republic of China" follow comma in the question (if answers are any of A,B,C,D). Else it seems "per capita food supply" of "stringent rationing and planned distribution" is in question which further is a subject verb mismatch..

"is" is incorrect in E.. should be has.

Any de-mistifying explanations or rule-pointers please?