The British sociologist and activist Barbara Wootton once noted as a humurous example of income madistribution that the elephant that gave rides to children at the Whipsnade Zoo was earning annually exactly what she earned as director of adult education for London.

(A) Same
(B) that the elephant, giving rides to children at the Whipsnade Zoo, had been earning
(C) that there was an elephant giving rides to the children at the Whipsnade Zoo, and it earned
(D) the elephant that gave rides to children at the Whipsnade Zoo and was earning
(E) the elephant giving rides to children at the Whipsnade Zoo and that it earned

It is Definitely A.

A for me too

Instructors - any input on this one?

Thanka

We need "that" to start the underline: Wootton noted (the fact) that something is true. Eliminate D and E.

C is passive and separates the two clauses by an "and" when we are actually trying to draw a connection there. Eliminate.

B has a tense problem (had been earning - this should be the simple past like the other verbs in the sentence). In addition, the "giving rides" modifier implies something going on while it's giving rides, but that's not the correct meaning.

The correct meaning is exhibited by A: "the elephant that gave rides" - which elephant? The one that gave rides to kids.

A is correct.