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Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolving as a kind of snorkel.
(A) that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolving
(B) that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving
(C) suggesting that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal with its trunk originally evolved
(D) to suggest that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal and its trunk originally evolved
(E) to suggest that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Verb Forms• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• Information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “evolving” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "evolving" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "its trunk originally evolving"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "evolving" in this sentence)" construction incorrectly implies that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal
because its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel; the intended meaning is that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and
as a separate action its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel; please remember, the introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “evolving” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "has suggested" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with its trunk originally evolved"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had descended" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had descended" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "and its trunk originally evolved", conveying the intended meaning of the sentence - that Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that, as a separate action, its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel. Further, Option E avoids the tense error seen in Option B, as it uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + suggest" in this sentence) rather than an active verb, such as "has suggested" (used in Option B). Moreover, Option E correctly uses the simple present tense verb "is descended" to refer to information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option E correctly uses the simple past tense verb "evolved" to refer to an action that concluded in the past.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Comma + Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team