Final answer:
The hunting-gathering stage lasted approximately 20,000 years longer than the Agricultural Revolution, considering the timeline of human subsistence practices and the emergence of agriculture around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hunting-gathering stage lasted significantly longer than the period defined by the Agricultural Revolution. When considering the timeline for when agriculture began, which is roughly around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, and comparing it to the span of the hunting-gathering period that predates agriculture, we get a sense of the vast difference in time frames. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle spanned for tens of thousands of years prior to the emergence of agriculture.
Understanding that the process of transitioning from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural-based societies took over a thousand years or more, and considering that Homo sapiens have engaged in hunting and gathering for a far longer period, we can determine the correct answer. Hence, the length of time that the hunting-gathering stage lasted in comparison to the duration of the agricultural revolution is closest to approximately 20,000 years, making option d) the correct answer to the question.