Many historians argue that the industrial output of the North during the Civil War was far greater than ______________________.
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writingWhich choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
the South.
B
that of the South.
C
the South was.
D
those of the South.
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The sentence compares the "industrial output" (singular) of the North to the output of the South. "That of" correctly substitutes for the singular noun "output."
Choice A is incorrect because it illogically compares "output" to a location ("the South"). Choice C is incorrect because it creates a clause ("the South was") which is grammatically incorrect after "than." Choice D is incorrect because "those" is plural.