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Its not the archaeologists who are destroyed. So I am only looking to remove the ambiguity by either providing what is destroyed, or clarifying the noun / pronoun that the modifier applies to.
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C is correct: uses correct tense with proper clarity
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Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt.
(A) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
(B) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists had inferred
(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
(D) Partially destroyed though it had been, the archaeologists had been able to infer
(E) Destroyed partially, the archaeologists were able to infer

Kudos if u like it...

I am confused with times in the OA C:
"it had been partially destroyed" and then "the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt"

It seems that the crypt was destroyed before Zonainos was buried...

could you explain?

thank!
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Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer


It was destroyed before the archaeologists were able to infer. Not before the Zonainos was buried.


I hope this helps!!
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monir6000
Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt.
(A) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
(B) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists had inferred
(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
(D) Partially destroyed though it had been, the archaeologists had been able to infer
(E) Destroyed partially, the archaeologists were able to infer

Kudos if u like it...

I am confused with times in the OA C:
"it had been partially destroyed" and then "the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt"

It seems that the crypt was destroyed before Zonainos was buried...

could you explain?

thank!

To solve, You can ignore the last modifier. Sentence is Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription

Now onto your question
inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt describes the matter on inscription
the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt - actual words written - this is what is inscribed.
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I would go for C

Correct use of Tense and correct subject-verb agreement
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C is no doubt the best among the lot, but a doubt.

Here "it" should be referring to the inscription, but it's the object in the second sentence. Is it correct? I don't think so.


Look at "it" this way:

Even though it was big, the bull still found a way through the hole.

So isn't "it" confusing here?

Is it referring to the bull or the hole?

I believe this question is wrong.
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Old question though want to have discussion on this. Clearly all other choices are bad, but C is not the best way to say this.
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Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt.


(A) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer

(B) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists had inferred

(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer

(D) Partially destroyed though it had been, the archaeologists had been able to infer

(E) Destroyed partially, the archaeologists were able to infer

There is no reason for past perfect(a past action interrupted by another action) . Hence, B and D are out.

In A and E the first part of the sentence modifies the archaeologists. wrong.

IMO C
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If this would have been the sentence "Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologist was able to infer", then what would "it" refer to now, as "it" is singular Pronoun subject and "archaeologist" is singular pronoun subject.

PS: Just want to clear this concept.
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C is no doubt the best among the lot, but a doubt.

Here "it" should be referring to the inscription, but it's the object in the second sentence. Is it correct? I don't think so.


Look at "it" this way:

Even though it was big, the bull still found a way through the hole.

So isn't "it" confusing here?

Is it referring to the bull or the hole?

I believe this question is wrong.
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Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt.

Here "although..." is in phrase form, hence, it shall be talking about certain things.
So, what can be destroyed?
The archaeologists? NO
the inscription? YES

Quote:
(A) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
The phrase not talking about the archaeologists
Incorrect

Quote:
(B) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists had inferred
Same as A
Incorrect

Quote:
(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
"it" can refer to the inscription or the crypt.
But a bit of ambiguity is acceptable in GMAT. Still, if C is the best of all options then only we will mark it, so hold on to C.

Quote:
(D) Partially destroyed though it had been, the archaeologists had been able to infer
Incorrect verb sequence in past perfect. Destruction of the inscription/ crypt must be before the inference by the archaeologists.
Incorrect

Quote:
(E) Destroyed partially, the archaeologists were able to infer
Same as A.
Incorrect.

Hence, C is best of all.
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Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the inscription that the priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt.

The first part of the sentence- "Although partially destroyed" is a modifier that must be placed closest to what it modifies.

(A) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
“Although partially destroyed” incorrectly modifies the closest subject- archaeologists. What was partially destroyed? The inscription and not the archeologists. Eliminate.

(B) Although partially destroyed, the archaeologists had inferred
Same as A. Eliminate.

(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, the archaeologists were able to infer
“It” refers to the singular noun “inscription. Option C resolves the misplaced modifier error in options A and B. By adding the subject, the first part of the sentence becomes a dependent clause and not a modifier. Correct.

(D) Partially destroyed though it had been, the archaeologists had been able to infer
Incorrect sentence construction and incorrect tense form- “archeologists had been able to”. Eliminate.

(E) Destroyed partially, the archaeologists were able to infer
Same as A. Correct.

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Correct Option C:

Event sequence
1. Inscription is partially destroyed found by archaeologists
2. Archaeologists were able to infer from what remained of the partially destroyed inscription
3. Inscription mentioning that priest Zonainos was buried in the crypt

(A) Although partially destroyed (no information, what is destroyed?)
the archaeologists were able to infer - Tense no issue

(B) Although partially destroyed, (no information, what is destroyed?)
the archaeologists had inferred - Tense error
(“had” is used before the main verb for the event that happened first + inffered [past tense])
- Meaning error: it seems before some thing is destroyed, archaeologists had inffered

(C) Although it had been partially destroyed, (it is referred to "Inscription" - both singular)
the archaeologists were able to infer - Tense no error
Correct: Meaning - inscription destroyed 1st, then archaeologists were able to infer

(D) Partially destroyed though it had been,
the archaeologists had been able to infer - Tense Error

(E) Destroyed partially, (no information, what is destroyed?) + absence of Contrast meaning
the archaeologists were able to infer - Tense no error
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