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A is nonsensical. It seems to convey the meaning that scientists are unable to find solid proof, proof which would enable the bird to exist. Similar to saying something like the social activists were unable to find a reason for the depressed person to live.

D conveys the right meaning. Proof is correctly modified using an essential modifier with a "that" clause. Answer should be D.

Kudos Please... If my post helped.
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gmatbull
The ivory-billed woodpecker... has moved in and out of the extinct category, with scientists consistently
unable to find solid proof THAT the bird (the ivory-billed woodpecker) still exists.

IMO it is.

Hi - Have u seen from any GMAT source that proof for is wrong idiom - just to confirm
And only proof of and proof that is correct idiom?

cheers
when would we get to know where prove of applies or prove that??
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gmatbull
The ivory-billed woodpecker... has moved in and out of the extinct category, with scientists consistently
unable to find solid proof THAT the bird (the ivory-billed woodpecker) still exists.

IMO it is.

Hi - Have u seen from any GMAT source that proof for is wrong idiom - just to confirm
And only proof of and proof that is correct idiom?

cheers
when would we get to know where prove of applies or prove that??

Hey Proof OF is used with NOUN ( or noun equivalent such as a noun phrase) because "of" in "proof of" is a preposition so it must be followed by noun!
Proof that + clause -> that here is used here as clause introducer, similar to suggest that report that etc (that can be used as a pro-noun as well but that completely different usage)

So in this Q both D and E grammatically correct but there is a meaning issue in E hence we have to go with D
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Usage of nouns such as "evidence/proof/report " are often modified by That-clause that contain full sentences.
So -D(that clause) is preferred over other prepositional phrases .
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Quote:
Hi - Have u seen from any GMAT source that proof for is wrong idiom - just to confirm
And only proof of and proof that is correct idiom?

Quote:
Hey Proof OF is used with NOUN ( or noun equivalent such as a noun phrase) because "of" in "proof of" is a preposition so it must be followed by noun!
Proof that + clause -> that here is used here as clause introducer, similar to suggest that report that etc (that can be used as a pro-noun as well but that completely different usage)

So in this Q both D and E grammatically correct but there is a meaning issue in E hence we have to go with D

Proof for... makes no sense.. it is non idiomatic.. right?
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Jp27
The ivory-billed woodpecker, once the largest woodpecker in North America at a striking 20 inches tall, has moved in and out of the extinct category, with scientists consistently unable to find solid proof for the bird to still exist.

(A) for the bird to still exist

(B) for the bird as still existing

(C) for the bird's continued existence

(D) that the bird still exists

(E) of the bird and its continued existence

there are many patterns in which noun modifier can modify its noun
noun+for somebody to do
noun+for
noun+that clause

depending on meaning of the noun and meaning relation between the noun and its modifier, we use the specific pattern

the proof for you to study is good
the proof for this hard case
the proof that the bird still exists.

according to meaning relation between "proof" and "bird exist", only choice D fit here.
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I think
"proof of bird's existence " is idiomatic . "proof for bird existence " is wrong logically. but "proof for this legal case " is idiomatic.

to say about a proof is relevant to an action we have
proof+ of +action noun or
proof+that-clause
to say about the purpose of proof , we use
proof for+noun (this is most common for any noun)
to say about what kind of proof, to describe the proof. we use
proof (for anyone) to study . in this case, "to study" is an appositive of proof.

so, depending on meaning, we can use proof
+of +noun
+for+noun
+ to do
+ that clause.

each of them can be idiomatic
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