Antiques

[j_shreyans]

Since the Italian government began a crackdown on the black market in the 1970's, the amount of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy dropped by a 50 percent decline.

A)amount of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy dropped by a 50 percent decline


B)amount of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy has experienced a 50 percent decline

C)number of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy has declined by 50 percent

D)number of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy declined by 50 percent

E)number of looted antiquities smuggled out of Italy has dropped by a 50 percent decline

Guys ,

i can eliminate option A,B & E.

But i am confused why C why not D

[gmatcracker0123]

C is correct because of the correct use of the Present Perfect tense.

Present Perfect tense refers to the a continued action or the continued effect of an action that happened in the past to the present.

So Since the 1970 to date there has been a decline of 50% and hence as this is a continous effect to date the Present Perfect Tense should be used instead of Simple Past.[/spoiler]