127 (bonus) Answer: (d) The gap is about 58 years, and the book of Esther fills a part of that time
Read the following: Note: Daniel and Ezekiel cover the time of the Exile; Malachi closes the Old Testament
Note: Ezra 1-6 tells us about the first group of returning exiles. That part of the story ends when the Temple is finished in 516 BC. In Ezra 7, Ezra comes to Jerusalem with the second group of returning exiles in 458 BC. The difference is 58 years.
Note: the book of Esther takes place from 483-473 BC. That part of the story starts 33 years after the Temple is finished and ends 15 years before Ezra makes his journey to Israel, and fills a part of the gap.
Note: all dates come from John F. Brug, The People’s Bible Commentary: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther , page 5.