Bunuel
Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented penicillin in 1928.
A. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
B. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team would invent
C. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team invent
D. Because of illegal abortions, far fewer women lost their lives after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
E. Far fewer women lost their lives because abortions that were performed illegally after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented penicillin in 1928.A. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
This answer choice makes correct use of the Past Perfect tense (had invented) to describe a past action (the invention of penicillin) that occurred before another past action (the death of fewer women).
The structure for Past Perfect sentences is as follows: the first verb is had, and the second verb is in the third form (V3).
Past Perfect: had + Verb in the third form (V3)
The following time expressions indicate that the sentence is in the Past Perfect tense:
before, after, by the time, until
B. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team would invent
Incorrect.
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In this sentence, a past action (the invention of penicillin) takes place before another past action (women lost their lives). Therefore, the Past Perfect tense should be used for the earlier action. This answer choice, however, uses the Future Past (would invent).C. Far fewer women lost their lives because of illegal abortions after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team invent
Incorrect.
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. In this sentence, a past action (the invention of penicillin) takes place before another past action (women lost their lives). Therefore, the Past Perfect tense should be used for the earlier action. This answer choice, however, uses the Present Simple (invent).D. Because of illegal abortions, far fewer women lost their lives after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
Incorrect.
Although this answer choice is grammatically correct, it changes the meaning of the original sentence by moving the phrase Because of illegal abortions. The abortions are not the reason why fewer women lost their lives.E. Far fewer women lost their lives because abortions that were performed illegally after Dr. Alexander Fleming and his team had invented
Incorrect.
Although this answer choice is grammatically correct, it uses the five-word phrase abortions that were performed illegally. This phrase is redundant and can be replaced by the more concise illegal abortions.