"The subway, on which Toronto prides itself, was a laughable imitation of the real thing."

"The subway, on which Toronto prides itself, was a laughable imitation of the real thing." What does the author mean by "the real thing"？

A．A subway that is extremely clean and well illuminated.

B．A subway that has a magnificent look.

C．A subway littered with garbage and covered with spray paints.

D．A subway crowded with boisterous children.

请帮忙给出正确答案和分析，谢谢！