求助：GWD-13-30E选项

didosun72

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
A. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
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
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
D. amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago
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
正确答案是D，我选了E。E有什么错吗？我觉得D会造成歧义啊，从10年前的3/4下降到现在的2/1,或理解成10年前开始下降。请大家帮忙解释一下，谢谢！

jtrchina

Q:E有什么错吗？
A:有。what无端宽泛了比较范围，致使what与比例之间不可比。比较以下两句话即可体会差异：
(1)The package workers in urban get is more than what recieved by rural workers.
(2)The package workers in urban get is more than that recieved by rural workers.
严格来讲句(1)中的比较对象不可比。因为what比package范围更大，可以是中秋节的月饼、为避税改发的交通卡等等其他福利，两者范围不同，故不具可比性。反之，句(2)that 就清晰地限定了比较对象package.

PS：LZ的小兔兔好可爱~啊~失去抵抗力了

didosun72

那是不是一般用what比较都不具可比性啊？感觉做过的题确实很少用what比。再问一下，D是不是有歧义，还是我想多了？

jtrchina

Q:那是不是一般用what比较都不具可比性啊？
A:一般是的。这是由what这个单词本身的意思决定的。实质上，what涵盖了宇宙万物，包括LZ的可爱小兔兔在内，精神的物质的没有一样不能称其为what，故其界定是无限的，作为比较对象过于宽泛。

Q是不是有歧义?
A:没有歧义。因为：
(1)down不是谓语动词，a decade ago明确修饰数据three-quarters。
(2)即使down是动词，十年前从四分之三跌和从十年前的四分之三跌不产生影响整句意思的歧义。相对于E选项中的比较类错误来说根本无伤大雅。

didosun72

jtrchina,你真是好强大啊！赞！