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
B:
Since RELEASING African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, THEIR DESCENDANTS...
The implication here is that THEIR DESCENDANTS were responsible for RELEASING African honeybees outside Sao Paolo.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate B.
C:
35 years since African honeybees HAD BEEN RELEASED
If the release of the bees took place on January 1, 1900, then on January 1, 1950, the bees already HAD BEEN RELEASED.
Thus,
35 years since African Honeybees HAD BEEN RELEASED could imply January 1, 1950 + 35 years = January 1, 1985.
Not the intended timeline.
The intended meaning is that the the migration took place
LESS THAN 35 YEARS after the release -- sometime BEFORE January 1, 1935.
Eliminate C.
D and E:
It took less than 35 years.
Here,
it lacks a clear referent.
Eliminate D and E.
The correct answer is
A.
In D and E,
it seems to be serving as an EXPLETIVE.
An expletive is a placeholder pronoun whose purpose is to DELAY THE SUBJECT.
On the GMAT, the delayed subject typically will be an infinitive phrase or a
that-clause.
IT is easy TO LIKE MARY.
Here,
it is standing in for
to like Mary.
Conveyed meaning:
TO LIKE MARY is easy.
IT was not until last year THAT JOHN BEGAN STUDYING.
Here,
it is standing in for
that John began studying.
Conveyed meaning:
THAT JOHN BEGAN STUDYING was not until last year.
In D and E, the referent for
it is unclear.
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