You might appreciate that the context of the sentence is an ongoing thing, as indicated by the word
‘as’. Since the main clause is the effect of the subordinate clause, we must give some time for the effect to become visible. We must say either
‘close connection becomes’ or ‘
close connection is becoming’ because the cause and effect relationship is also going to be in the future. The right tense that conveys a present and a continuing effect will be either a simple past or a present progressive.
Since a present progressive is not an option, we hve to settle for choice
E.
In an almost analogous example of the
OG given below ,
OG preferred the present progressive. (of course the simple present was not an option in the
OG case)
Quote:
As business grows more complex, students majoring in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming increasingly successful in the job market.
(A) majoring in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming increasingly
(B) who major in such specialized areas as finance and marketing are becoming more and more
(C) who majored in specialized areas such as those of finance and marketing are being increasingly
(D) who major in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming more and more
(E) having majored in such specialized areas as finance and marketing are being increasingly
OA is B