Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies, the parasitic Guinea worm beca

A - Correct. Here two independent clauses are correctly separated by semicolon.
B - The first part before semicolon is a dependent clause and hence this is incorrect.
C - the frequency of the worm is not the correct subject. It is incorrectly referring to the frequency where as it should refer to worm
D - Having clause and Being clause should modify "worm" not "the frequency of worm"
E - Use of Having and being is making the choice too wordy.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

To be logical, each independent clause of this sentence must use chronological order; to be clear, each clause must avoid wordy or awkward phrasing. “Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies” is a logically and grammatically correct way to begin the sentence, and this modifying phrase is correctly followed immediately by the noun it modifies, “the parasitic Guinea worm.” The clauses before and after the semicolon are both independent, as required.

(A) CORRECT. The original sentence is correct as written.

(B) “Being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986” is an awkward construction that should be replaced by the more direct “became the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986.” The phrases “being …since 1986” and “found even in ancient Egyptian mummies” are presented in an illogical and ungrammatical sequence. The clause before the semicolon is not independent; rather, it is a modifying phrase with nothing to modify. The connecting punctuation should be a comma, to make it clear that “being the focus…mummies” modifies “the parasitic Guinea worm.”

(C) “Having been” suggests that the focus on the disease came chronologically before the worms were found in ancient Egyptian mummies. The semicolon is used correctly only if the clauses before and after the semicolon are each independent. Therefore, the phrase “parasitic Guinea worm” must be used before the semicolon; otherwise, the pronoun “it” has no logical antecedent.  Also, "frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm" is incorrect; the frequency cannot be eradicated. 

(D) Progressive verb forms “being found” and “having been” illogically suggest continuous action and fail to establish a logical event sequence. Moreover, this choice is expressed in a manner that is wordy and awkward.  Also, "frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm" is incorrect; the frequency cannot be eradicated.

(E) Progressive verb forms “Having been found” and “being” illogically suggest continuous action and fail to establish a logical event sequence. Moreover, this choice is expressed in a manner that is wordy and awkward.

Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies, the parasitic Guinea worm became the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986; this species of the parasite has declined for two decades, and may finally be eradicated from the earth by 2010.

One general concept to remember is that GMAT considers 'being' wordy and redundant, whenever used as a modifier. This will help eliminate a good chunk of choices in the hall. This knowledge together with the simple themes such as fragmentation and basic reasoning may help to solve such frightening questions in a rapid-fire time. This question is a classic example of such a simple process.


• Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies, the parasitic Guinea worm became the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986; this species of parasite has -- must be the answer. but this may be arrived lastly.

• Being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986 and found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the population of the parasitic Guinea worm has --- 'Being' as a modifier is wrong

• Having been the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986, it was found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm -- If you remove the second part, the pronoun 'it' has no noun to fall back on. The frequency is yet again is a change of logical meaning since it is not the frequency that has declined, but the parasite itself

• Being found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and having been the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm -- Being as a modifier is wrong.
• Having been found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the parasitic Guinea worm species -- Being as a modifier is wrong.

After removing three choices for using 'being' as a modifier, all one has to do is to choose between A and C; C can be easily dislodged for the above-said reasons. Be happy with A and move on.

Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies, the parasitic Guinea worm became the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986; this species of parasite has declined for two decades, and may finally be eradicated from the earth by 2010.

(A) Found even in ancient Egyptian mummies, the parasitic Guinea worm became the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986; this species of parasite has correct

(B) Being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986 and found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the population of the parasitic Guinea worm has There are two errors in this choice. 1) the use of semi-colon is wrong 2) Being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986 and found even in ancient Egyptian is modifying the population. this modification is wrong. it should modifies the parasitic Guinea worm

(C) Having been the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986, it was found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm pronoun reference error. we dont know what it refers to.

(D) Being found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and having been the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm the phrase: Being found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and having been the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986 is modifying the frequency. this modification is wrong. it should modifies the parasitic Guinea worm

(E) Having been found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the parasitic Guinea worm species. syntax error. we need has declined.

A - Correct. Two independent clauses are correctly separated by semicolon.
B - Awkward construction
C - It has no noun
D - Awkward construction
E - Awkward construction

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Being is mostly wrong in GMAT, so eliminate B, D
(B) Being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986 and found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the population of the parasitic Guinea worm has
(D) Being found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and having been the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm


It in C is ambigious, so eliminate
(C) Having been the focus of a global public health campaign in 1986, it was found even in ancient Egyptian mummies; the frequency of the parasitic Guinea worm


In E having been and being in a sentence dont make sense, so eliminate
(E) Having been found even in ancient Egyptian mummies and being the focus of a global public health campaign since 1986, the parasitic Guinea worm species[/quote]

We're left with A - correct