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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Grammatical Construction + Redundancy/Awkwardness + Tenses

• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.


A: A. This answer choice uses the redundant phrase “only after when”, leading to awkwardness; both “only after” and “when” refer to a point in time. Further, Option A utilizes the passive voice construction “civil rights legislation was supported by Harry Truman”, rendering it needlessly wordy.

B: Trap. This answer choice uses the redundant phrase “only after when”, leading to awkwardness; both “only after” and “when” refer to a point in time.

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the simple past tense verb “developed” to refer to an event that concluded in the past. Further, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “develops” to refer to an event that took place in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used only to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase “at the time after the supporting, leading to awkwardness.

E: This answer choice is needlessly wordy due to the use of the phrase “there being”; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team