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Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

A] Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

B] The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, which is an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat’s genetic evolution and scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

C] Descending from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution and has been scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes in the animal.

D] Having descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution that has scarcely been sufficient for the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

E] The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes in the animal.



The OA is E. But it certainly came down to the options B and E...


Option A: 'Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat' the modifier is certainly modifying the wrong subject or a thing, i.e 'it'. It should modify the correct noun...

Option C: This solves the initial modifier issue but then it creates another misplaced modifier issue, 'the domestic cat' is not scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes in the animal.

Option D: same thing as C but in a different way, 'the genetic evolution' has not scarcely been sufficient for the marked physical changes. That is why it changes the meaning of the sentence.

Option B: Solves the initial modifier issue but (4000 years ago) is modified incorrectly.

(4000 years ago) is not a time span but it is a time or a moment and hence 4000 years ago cannot be short time for the domestic cat's genetic evolution and scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes. That is what is wrong in this sentence.

Option E: Solves the modifier issue and also solves the 2nd modifier issue i.e 4000 years ago is a moment or time that is modified as an exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which.....
It is the correct usage.

Hence the correct answer is option E:



Kindly experts help in the option E: Seems a bit of a complicated case or complicated issue.

Thanking you...

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