Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning only after World War II.

(A) Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

(B) Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

(C) Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on their academic merit

(D) Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on their academic merit

(E) Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it

agree with A. B has two flaws, which A fixes.

first, it is in active where as B is in passice.
second, nationwide should modify admission not students and in A, it is exactly linke this.

"based on academic merit" refers to students and not the colleges and universities.Hence C looks ok for me.

I go with A as well.

I also want to point out that no where in C does it indicate natiowide.

OA is A :

The original sentence begins with an opening modifier that correctly modifies the nationwide admission of students.

(A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The use of the initial modifier in this choice is correct. However, the adjective “nationwide” is incorrectly applied to students, when it is meant to apply to the admission process.

(C) Here, the modifier is adjacent to the subject “colleges and universities,” incorrectly suggesting that colleges and universities are taken for granted as opposed to the admission process.

(D) This sentence incorrectly uses the pronoun “them” to refer to the “admission” which is a singular subject. The use of the pronoun “their” is also unclear as the antecedent could be construed to be “colleges and universities” as opposed to the intended antecedent, "students."

(E) Using the word "and" at the end of the underline makes the meaning of this sentence less clear by failing to draw an appropriate contrast between the current state of taking the nationwide admission of students for granted and the fact that it is a relatively recent phenomenon. A more appropriate word choice would be "but": "Most people now take for granted..., but it is a relatively recent phenomenon."

A for me.
'the nationwide admission of students' is better than 'the admission of nationwide students'.

Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning only after World War II.


A Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

B Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

C Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on their academic merit

D Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on their academic merit

E Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it

The difference is active & passive construction.
_________________

Regards
SD
-----------------------------
Press Kudos if you like my post.
Debrief 610-540-580-710(Long Journey): from-600-540-580-710-finally-achieved-in-4th-attempt-142456.html

Thanks SD for your response

But, Regarding the question above, isn't it "IT" used in B correctly referred by "the admission" ? In Option B if we rectify the other error then isn't it correct sentence?

Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning only after World War II.


A Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

B Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on academic merit
Passive
C Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on their academic merit
Passive
D Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on their academic merit
-them-> where it points
E Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it

I will go with E as A seems wordy