比较中的省略：there be

A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago.

(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were

(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were（C）

(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

Choices A, B, and C appropriately use the construction “one X for every thirty-two Y’s” to describe the ratio of computers to pupils, but only C, the best answer, is error-free. In A, are does not agree with the subject, one microcomputer; furthermore, in A, B, and D, than is used where as is required. Choices D and E reorder and garble the “one X...” construction, making four times as many refer illogically to pupils.

Certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place: one reason is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

(A) Certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place; one reason is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

(B) If used repeatedly in the same place, one reason that certain pesticides can become ineffective is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

(C) If used repeatedly in the same place, one reason certain pesticides can become ineffective is suggested by the finding that much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes are found in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than those that are free of such chemicals.

(D) The finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals is suggestive of one reason, if used repeatedly in the same place, certain pesticides can become ineffective.（A）

(E) The finding of much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in those that are free of such chemicals suggests one reason certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place.

Choice A, the best answer, is the only one that manages syntactic control of the sentence. The sentence consists of two independent clauses, beginning Certain pesticides... and one reason, which are connected by a semicolon. Dangling or misplaced modifiers plague choices B, C, and D: in each case, the phrase if used repeatedly in the same place illogically modifies one reason rather than certain pesticides. In choice E, The finding of much larger populations... than in those that is an improperly constructed comparison.

请教这两体的比较都涉及there be的句型，偶想问第一题如果省了than 后面的there were正确否？第二题，如果than后加上there are正确么？

A，省略后：every thirty-two pupils-〉every 128 pupils

B，要省略，状语比较很清楚。

请指正。

1、省略后，four times是用来修饰pupils了，而非computer.

2、比较的状语，不用补there are: 举例：

There are more people in Beijing than (there are people) in Newyork.

如果要加there are则也要加people，读起来不爽！

ZCX: 你觉得there are sth.中谁是主语？

偶的语法不精，但是偶记得there be 句型实质是个倒装来的，主语是be后的名次（sth/sb),后来成了习惯用法，there be就表示“有“的意思了。真正的原句应该是sth/sb be there.所以偶认为是sth/sb是真正的主语，请指教？

首先，我也不是特别清楚这个问题的确切答案，所以才问ZCXMM

我的一点浅见：

there be sth in someplace. 确实可以看成 sth be there in someplace. 这其里的there 应该是指代in someplace.

但人们一直用there be固定用法来表达“有”的概念，我认为对于这样一个约定俗成的句式，判断sth.是不是主语对解题没有什么意义。强记there be more sth in X than in Y.  这种句型就行了~~~

见笑了。