Tense question The world's tropical forest are disappearing at a faster rate than experts had thought.

The last part "had thought" can be written "thought" instead, right?

But strictly speaking , the nuances between the two are defferent from each other? Or is there a clear reason that should be "had thought"?

At first, I thought that because the main sentence have present tense "are", "had thought" is not correct. Past perfect tense can be used only if the same sentense has past tense. It is correct, isn't it?

Please help me with that!

Thank you in advance.

Is this correct? I don't know when I'll next be in Japan, but I'll tell you if I've decided. Is this correct? Thank you.

Europe vacation In Europe, many people travel to south areas in summer. A prime minister who is very busy manages to take a long vacation, and there are even many restaurants and hotels which are closed for managers and employees when many tourists visit. Summer vacations for them have special meanings which Japanese can't understand.

Inversion rule I found a sentence below that I could understand the meaning but couldn't understand the grammar rule. As a result, Americans of 1950 enjoyed longer and healthier lives than had Americans a hundred years before. About the part of "than had Americans". Is this a kind of inversions, right? I couldn't find the rule in any reference book. Please tell me about it if any. Thank you in advance.

Busy winter I have to do a lot of work these days. In winter I have winter school class. I'm required to make a guide book for it and arrange specific classes. Also I have to prepare for new school year caliculum. I'm dead(>_<)

Any difference? get the train catch the train Are these the same? Any different nuance? Thank you in advance!

Question in Entrance exam Should all high school students be required to do community work, such as helping the elderly or disabled? Why or why not? I don't think all high school students should be required to do community work. I have two reasons. Firstly, study at high school is very difficult. So students should focus on their study. Secondly, I think if they want to contribute to their community, they'd better study harder. When they start to work after university, they can do much more useful things for other people. High school students can do only what they are told to do by adults. However, people with higher education can do what they want to do and can do more helpful things than students can. Mentioned above, I don't think all high school students should be required to do community work. (I wonder if this passage makes sense. Does it?)