Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
There are two main issues in this sentence:
(1) The subject (maintaining state parks, which is singular) and verb (cost, which is plural) do not agree.
(2) The cost to maintain state parks is being compared with the cost of other state land. You cannot compare unlike parts (i.e., the cost to maintain land and the cost of the land itself). The correct sentence would be written as x costs far more to maintain than y where x and y are parallel and similar elements (i.e., both x and y refer to the cost to maintain a specific type of land).
A. The subject and verb do not agree; the cost of maintaining state parks is improperly compared to the cost of state land
B. The subject (state parks, which is plural) does not agree with the verb (costs, which is singular)
C. The cost of maintaining state parks is improperly compared to the cost of state land
D. The subject (state parks, which is plural) agrees with the verb (cost, which is plural); the word does ["cost to maintain" is understood] makes the sentence parallel and ensures that similar objects are being compared
E. The cost to maintain state parks is improperly compared to the cost of state land