16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardLogical comparison that excludes the item itself

Standard English Conventions practice question

The 1911 census recorded more residents in the parish than ____.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. any other census before or sinceCorrect
  2. B. any census before or since
  3. C. the other censuses did before or since it did
  4. D. ever

Answer: A. any other census before or since

"any other" excludes the 1911 census from the comparison.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. any census before or since
"any census" would include 1911 itself, which cannot record more than itself.
C. the other censuses did before or since it did
Garbled.
D. ever
"than ever" leaves the comparison unfinished.

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