Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as southern Texas.
A) Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
B) In less than 35 years since releasing African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
C) In less than the 35 years since African honeybees had been released outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
D) It took less than 35 years from the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, when
E) It took less than the 35 years after the time that African honeybees were released outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then
A
B
B
More attempts please!
(A)
Solution and Explanation
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Ans is A.
Comment out / block the not-so-important text..
A- Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees [outside Sao Paulo, Brazil], their descendants[, popularly known as killer bees,] had migrated [as far north as southern Texas].
=> Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees, their descendants had migrated..
C-
In less than the 35 years since African honeybees had been released [outside Sao Paulo, Brazil], their descendants[, popularly known as killer bees,] had migrated [as far north as southern Texas].
=> In less than the 35 years since African honeybees had been released, their descendants had migrated..
A: “their†is next to the subject it modifies.
B: Implies that the Killer bees released the African honeybees.
C: “the 35 years” – usage of “the” smells incorrect.
Also passive. The use of tense – “had been†and “had†– suggests that African honey bees were released at the same time that their descendants migrated. C would have been better without the “had†(simple past).
D. “when” at the end is incorrect.
E. “and then” at the end incorrect; passive; “the 35 years”
Note: This is a GMATPrep Question.
HTH
~magnus1
Any queries/ doubts/ disagreements, pl. email me at n_anchal@yahoo.com with “QUERY/ DISAGREE” in the subject, and I’ll be happy to resolve your concern.
A.
Just turn the sentence-as-written around, and it still works:
Their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as southern Texas less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Drop answers D and E immediately. They begin with “orphan pronouns.” What does “It” refer to? Nothing.
There are other things wrong with answers B and C. But the “In” they both start with is superfluous, and adds nothing to the sentence-as-written.
I feel the answer is C
Since released makes sense, releasing brings us in present.
Bees had been released in the past.
IMO C. ………
Rest all choices either are awkward or redundant or mess up the tense consturction.
Answer “A”
A…
option A
B