GMAT的语法题

题目

GMAT的语法题
New theories propose that catastrophic impacts of
asteroids and comets may have caused reversals in
the Earth’s magnetic field,the onset of ice ages,
splitting apart continents 80 million years ago,and
great volcanic eruptions.
􀂃 (A) splitting apart continents
􀂃 (B) the splitting apart of continents
􀂃 (C) split apart continents
􀂃 (D) continents split apart
􀂃 (E) continents that were split apart
我选择了A,正确答案是B.因为我的想法是A可以就近修饰the onset of ice ages,充当状语,请问这个想法错在哪里?而且正确答案中的the+动名词感觉好奇怪啊,所以没有去选了..不知NN能否举几个the +动名词的例子~

答案

“the”表示特指,原文要表达的意思是,“那个八千万年前把陆地分开的”.若选A,就是不明确,因为splitting apart continents到底是作的整个句子的状语呢,还是只做the onset of ice ages的状语.很明显是做the onset of ice ages的状语.A容易让人误解.