To me it makes more sense to translate this way:

sycamores ‑m→ older than maples

Sycamores←s→ /older than maples

Since "the majority, but not all" of sycamores are older than maples, that means SOME sycamores must be younger than maples. And since ALL tulips are older than ALL maples, anything younger than a maple must also be younger than a tulip. Therefore some sycamores must be younger than some tulips. Which is what E is saying in a more complicated way.

Why have this lesson before we've covered all of the question types in the curriculum? We haven't even covered most of the question types yet

Thank you for typing the math out! This is the only explanation that makes sense to me. But I still feel like it requires a LOT of assumption to get there.