Astronomical occurrences can be viewed in a religious light; many people are known to rekindle their faith after the observation of a meteor shower.

A) many people are known to rekindle their faith after the observation of a meteor shower.
B) many people are known to have rekindled their faith once a meteor shower has been observed.
C) there are many known people who have rekindled their faith once a meteor shower has been observed.
D) after a meteor shower is observed, there are many people who have rekindled their faith
E) rekindling their faith is known for many people after a meteor shower is observed.

It may not be correct to look at this issue in active or passive voice context. After all passive voice is not taboo in GMAT
Besides, there is virtually no choice without the use of passive voice.
‘Are known’ in A, ‘are known’ and ‘has been observed’ in B, and C, ‘is observed’ in D and E, are all in passive voice.
Another point is that the use of once in choices B and C does not gel well within the meaning. Once may be used to mean as soon as or at that very moment. In a remote sense, it may also mean that some people require seeing such cosmic phenomena just one time and then they are inclined to stoke their dormant faiths.
All these are general observations and generalizations. The use of present tense is acceptable in such instances, IMO.
Ignoring the passive voice insinuation, I would rather prefer A
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The sentence contains a semi colon which means the part after the semi colon must stand as an Independent stand alone Sentence. Only options (A) , (B) and (C) presents such -

A) many people are known to rekindle their faith after the observation of a meteor shower. - Distors the meaning.
B) many people are known to have rekindled their faith once a meteor shower has been observed. - Best among the rest
C) there are many known people who have rekindled their faith once a meteor shower has been observed. - Incorrect modification.

Can be straight away rejected -

D) after a meteor shower is observed, there are many people who have rekindled their faith
E) rekindling their faith is known for many people after a meteor shower is observed.

Hence IMHO (B)
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Hi Rohitmanglik,

I got the correct answer but must admit that I had the same doubt as you.

Who actually did the 'observation'. I basically selected the answer according to the POE.




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IMO A is better choice
Confused by OA

I started with the simple things...
many people are known for smth
for what?
they have rekindled their faith
when?
after seeing a meteor shower.

A - so after each meteor shower, many people rekindle? is this a pattern? hm...
B - looks like this one is more appropriate - we have switched from to rekindle to "to have rekindled" - not bad. once a meteor shower has been observed - aha, so it's no longer a pattern. B looks better than A.
C - changes the meaning - many known people is different than many people are known...
D - oh my god...no! noo. noooo

E - this one changes the focus from many people to rekindling...not good. in addition, it leaves the same "meaning error" as it is in A...as if there's a general pattern..

B is the best.