Sentence Correction

A swarm of desert honeybees, a phenomenon seen by few of the select scientists and entomologists, occur when a portion of the colony leave the current nest to find a new home.

A. few of the select scientists and entomologists, occur when a portion of the colony leave

B. a select few scientists and entomologists, only occurs when portions of the colony leaves

C very few selected scientists and entomologists, occur when portions of the colony leave

D. only very few selected scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of the colony leaves

E. only a select few scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of the colony leaves


Opinion required.

Answer is E

A. few of the select scientists and entomologists, occur when a portion of the colony leave - A swarm singular. Occur plural

B. a select few scientists and entomologists, only occurs when portions of the colony leaves - portions plural leaves singular

C very few selected scientists and entomologists, occur when portions of the colony leave - A swarm singular. Occur plural

D. only very few selected scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of the colony leaves - Wordy

E. only a select few scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of the colony leaves - Perfect

I think there should be SELECTED instead of SELECT.

So i would go with 'D'.

Let expert comment on the same.

"Selected" would mean that author selected some scientists and asked to see the phenomenon.
while "Select" would mean that few scientists saw the phenomenon independently without asking for and later author collected their opinions and reported.

Swarm.....occurs= SVA (Singular)......A and C are out
B switches the meaning when a portion is switched to portions= B out
only very few selected= awkward in my opinion= D out

E would be the answer

Thanks