* Balzac drank more than fifty cups of coffee

[kr.santo]

Balzac drank more than fifty cups of coffee a day and died of caffeine poisoning; furthermore, caffeine did not seem to bother Samuel Johnson, the great writer and lexicographer, who was reported to have drunk twenty-five cups of tea at one sitting.
(A) furthermore, caffeine did not seem to bother
(B) however, caffeine did not seem to bother
(C) however, caffeine did not seem to have bothered
(D) furthermore, caffeine did not seem to have bothered
(E) in addition, caffeine did not seem to bother

Can anyone explain why "to have bothered" is wrong here? I think that in this particular case present perfect infinitive should be used instead of simple infinitive "to bother".

[SAN]

B is correct .

You are proposing two cotradicting statements so However is best. B uses proper tense and "to bother" seem to idiomtic.

[esledge]

Please cite the source (author) of this problem. We cannot reply until then. If no source is cited, we will have to delete the question just to be sure we are not violating someone else's copyright. Thanks!