sc - gerund

[demoskopico]

A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced can give a company a significant edge on its competitors.
a...
b. Introducing a new computer product or process by a year earlier
c. A year's advantage to introduce a new computer product or process
d. To introduce a new computer product or process by a year earlier
e. Being a year ahead in introducing a new computer product or process


Why OA is D? Is not preferrable to use a gerund?

[demoskopico]

Why it is said that OA is E? don't we have to use the past? moreover, it is said that originality is plural. Is it really plural??

Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.

A. lay in the fact that he proposed the idea

B. lay in the fact of his proposing the idea

C. laid in the fact of his proposing the idea

D. laid in his proposal

E. lay in his proposal

[kevin]

Are you confusing two verbs? I lay in the sun while my wife laid the table.

(lie, lay, lain) vs (lay, laid, laid)

The former is intransitive, while the latter is transitive

The problem lies in the way the workers lay the bricks. (Present)
The problem lay in the way the workers laid the bricks. (Past)

[demoskopico]

ok I catch it. And the first one?

[kevin]

´by a year earlier¡ is wrong. I think the only correct version is E