1000 SC Questions # 62

[gmatgmat]

62. After gradual declension down to about 39 hours in 1970, the workweek in the United States has steadily increased to the point that the average worker now puts in an estimated 164 extra hours of paid labor a year.
(A) After gradual declension down
(B) Following a gradual declension down
(C) After gradual declining down
(D) After gradually declining
(E) Following gradually declining


the answer should be D. i'm not quite sure the difference btw "after" and "following"

Please explain.

Thanks.

[stubbornp]

imo D...

A,B,C redundant "declensing down"

E looks Awkward........

[Krabhay]

Declining/declension means coming down. So, the use of declining down/ declension down is redundant. Hence, we can eliminate a,b and c.
Following gradually declining in option E is wrong usage. It should be "following gradual decline".
So that leaves us with D.
Hence, d is the answer.