24.  
Employment costs rose 2.8 percent in the 12 months that ended in September, slightly less than they did in the year that ended in the previous quarter.

(A) less than they did
(B) less than it did
(C) less than they were
(D) lower than
lower than they were 
原文大致意思：就业成本升高了，少于过去升高的

题目分析：原文明显说出了一个比较，就是就业成本现在和过去的比较。A选项用they指代employment costs 用did指代rose显然可以，留着。B选项用it指代复数costs不可以，杀！C用were指代前面的rose显然不可以，杀！D什么都没有，显然没有A好 E用were指代rose显然不可以，杀！