The duration of negotiations was

• A. Twelve months
• B. Fifteen months
• C. Seventeen months
• D. Eighteen months

Answer: (D)

Think about what the question is asking: how long did the negotiations take? The material describes a slow, careful process with back-and-forth over many issues, likely involving several rounds of talks, proposals, and revisions, as well as different parties weighing terms and agreeing to compromises. That kind of diplomacy doesn’t happen quickly; it stretches across a long period as positions shift, new concerns emerge, and agreements are gradually built.

Because of that extended, multi-stage effort, the option that matches a prolonged timeframe fits best. It reflects a negotiation process that endured far longer than a shorter, simpler settlement would require. If the negotiations had been quick, the description would point to a much shorter span with fewer rounds and fewer changes to terms. The long, drawn-out nature described in the material is what makes the longest period the most plausible choice.