Sentence Correction

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Sentence Correction

by akash singhal » Sun Nov 15, 2015 11:54 pm
Between 1990 and 2000 the global economy grew more than it did during the 10,000 years from the beginning
of agriculture
to 1950.

(A) Between 1990 and 2000 the global economy grew more than it did during the 10,000 years from the beginning of agriculture
(B) Between 1990 and 2000 the growth of the global economy was more than that during 10,000 years, from when
agriculture began
(C) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeds that which had been for 10,000 years from
the beginning of agriculture
(D) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeds what it has been for 10,000 years, from
when agriculture began
(E) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeded what it did for the 10,000 years from the
beginning of agriculture

OE A

I got the answer right but still need some explanation on the reasoning.

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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:48 am
akash singhal wrote:Between 1990 and 2000 the global economy grew more than it did during the 10,000 years from the beginning
of agriculture
to 1950.

(A) Between 1990 and 2000 the global economy grew more than it did during the 10,000 years from the beginning of agriculture
(B) Between 1990 and 2000 the growth of the global economy was more than that during 10,000 years, from when
agriculture began
(C) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeds that which had been for 10,000 years from
the beginning of agriculture
(D) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeds what it has been for 10,000 years, from
when agriculture began
(E) The growth of the global economy between 1990 and 2000 exceeded what it did for the 10,000 years from the
beginning of agriculture
The object of during must be a period of time with a clearly established BEGINNING AND ENDING:
during World War 1
during the winter season
during business hours


B: during 10,000 years
Here, is is unclear when 10,000 years begins and ends.
Please note that the beginning and ending expressed by the non-essential modifier that follows -- from when agriculture began to 1950 -- is insufficient.
The object of during must ON ITS OWN provide a clear beginning and ending.
Eliminate B.

C and D: The growth...between 1990 and 2000 exceeds
Here, exceeds (present) cannot serve to refer to an event that took place in the past (between 1990 and 2000).
Eliminate C and D.

One purpose of did is to stand in for the simple past tense form of an ANTECEDENT VERB.
E: The growth...exceeded what it did.
Here, did seems to be standing in for the simple past tense form of the antecedent verb exceeded.
Conveyed meaning:
The growth exceeded what it exceeded.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is A.
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