The ivory-billed woodpecker, once the largest woodpecker in

[eggpain24]

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

HI，ron

This is a question from GMAT prep

I got the correct answer easily

I have some doubts of choice C

we know that what the scientists really concern here is whether birds still exist （since they are in or out of extinction category）

therefore，
C is wrong for indirect wording（as compared to D）and also for using incorrect idiom → the correct idiom should be “proof of sth"

also, as to choice E

I think "its continued existence" is fine, but what is problematic here is the former part " proof of bird" → since we don't need that proof，we only care about whether the bird still exists

please correct me if I am wrong

thank you~

[RonPurewal]

The only real error in choice C is "proof for...", as you noticed. It's not decidedly more wordy than the correct version.

You're correct about "proof of the bird".

[RonPurewal]

By the way—Is this question from the free version of the GMAT Prep software?
If so, please provide a screen shot as proof. Thanks.

If it's from one of the paid question packs, we cannot continue to discuss it here.