It can be seen from the question that Bob and Tick have $8$ rows in front and $11$ rows in the back. There are $20$ rows in total, and there are two people in each row, so there are $40$ people in total. 
The class organized students to do gymnastics side by side，$$and$$ there are two people in each row. Bob and Tick observed that there were $8$ rows in front of them and $11$ rows in the back. How many people in the class did gymnastics together?~(adapted from 2000 Math Kangaroo Problem, Level 3 - 4, Question \#12) 

[a] $$36$$ 
[b] $$38$$ 
[c] $$40$$ 
[d] $$42$$ 
[e] $$44$$ 