这道题OG是否错了

tony01

89. 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
(E)every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

答案为C，但是C中为什么用there were,而没有用there was呢？

tongxun

那位帮忙回答？谢谢了！
答案肯定没错，但具体是什么原因，我不记得了。对不起了！

tony01

这道题的意思是说，现在的计算机比原来多了4倍，还是少了四倍？

若果说少了4倍，were正确，但不符合常理；
若果说多了4倍，应该用was才主谓一致，前后对等呀？

zyh79

白勇的解释：
在不清楚单，复数的情况下，优先使用复数。

tony01

被你搞糊涂了79

gigi

我也被搞糊涂了，难道不是there be 句型由后面的名词决定吗？为什麽要优先使用复数呢？
(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
我记得不选d 的原因还有就是one miocrocomputer,和后面的four times as many ....不搭配当然还有than...
不太明白！79你再讲讲吧。。。老白怎麽说的

zyh79

当初老白怎么说的，记不完全了。
如果按他的意思，是不是说：  
  there is one pc for 2 students，four times as many as there were 2pc for 16
与there is one pc for 2 students，four times as many as there was  1pc for 8
均为可接受表达。

yiyuan05

老白确实讲过：在无法选择单复数的时候，复数优先使用。
而且，我觉得这题的关键不在于此。

gigi

yiuan关键在哪里？我觉得79的解释也有道理呀！

yiyuan05

他的解释没错呀，我是在帮他证实老白讲的话。
关键在主谓一致。
GIGI MM，我抗议，你把我的名字打错了！！！！！