Notice that been is not underlined.
Thus, the following is required here:
Howler monkeys HAVE recently BEEN observed.
Eliminate C, D and E.
In English, we have two primary infinitive tenses:
The present infinitive (TO + VERB)
The perfect infinitive (TO + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE).
The present infinitive expresses CONTEMPORANEOUS action (an action happening AT THE SAME TIME as the main action):
John IS proud TO BE president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO BE president (also in the present).
The perfect infinitive expresses PRIOR action (an action that happened PRIOR to the main action):
John IS proud TO HAVE BEEN president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO HAVE BEEN president (in the past).
In the SC above, have been observed (present perfect) implies that howler monkeys still exist.
Thus, the PRESENT INFINITIVE is required here:
Howler monkeys, long believed TO BE vegetarian, have recently been observed scavenging for eggs.
Eliminate B.
The correct answer is A.
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