GMATPrep : The hypothesis has been

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GMATPrep : The hypothesis has been

by NandishSS » Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:50 am
The hypothesis has been advanced that the ancestors of such plants and animals as the giant sequoia, the alligator, and the horse appeared on the fringes of the Arctic Ocean millions of years before lower latitudes.

(A) before lower latitudes

(B) before at lower latitudes

(C) before they did it at lower latitudes

(D) before they appeared at lower latitudes

(E) preceding their appearance at lower latitudes

Source : GMAT Paper Test

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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Nov 28, 2017 4:38 am
NandishSS wrote:The hypothesis has been advanced that the ancestors of such plants and animals as the giant sequoia, the alligator, and the horse appeared on the fringes of the Arctic Ocean millions of years before lower latitudes.

(A) before lower latitudes

(B) before at lower latitudes

(C) before they did it at lower latitudes

(D) before they appeared at lower latitudes

(E) preceding their appearance at lower latitudes
A: millions of years before lower latitudes
Here, a TIME (millions of years) is illogically compared to a PLACE (lower latitudes).
Eliminate A.

before may serve as a preposition (in which case it will be followed by a NOUN or NOUN PHRASE) or as a conjunction (in which case it will be followed by a CLAUSE).
B: before at lower latitudes
Here, before is incorrectly followed by a MODIFIER (at lower latitudes).
Eliminate B.

In C, it lacks a clear referent.
Eliminate C.

E: appeared...preceding their appearance
Here, a VERB (appeared) is illogically compared to a NOUN (appearance).
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.
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