请教大全987-24

1.        A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.

(A) had elected early retirement rather than face

(B) had elected early retirement instead of facing

(C) have elected retiring early instead of facing

(D) have elected to retire early rather than facing（E）

(E) have elected to retire early rather than face

这里为什么用现在完成时"have elected "呢? 难道是因为"within the past few years"? 请大家帮忙看看,多谢