Official Explanation:

Answer: E

In the original sentence, the modifying phrase — Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, - should be followed by whoever is finding this view fascinating, that is, Caesar. Both A and C get this wrong, so eliminate them.

B is a run-on sentence since it uses a comma to join two independent clauses. The passive construction in D appears very awkward compared to the active one in E, which is the correct answer.
_________________

My answer is (E). It took me 27 seconds.

When the whole sentence is underlined, our initial priority is to figure out the meaning.

(A) It is Caesar who found he view from the mountains fascinating. Because the subject of the main / independent clause "all" cannot serve as logical subject of the present participle clause "Finding the view from the mountains fascinating", this option is eliminated.

(B) Comma splice.

(C) Because the subject of the main / independent clause "Caesar’s exploration" cannot serve as logical subject of the present participle clause "Finding the view from the mountains fascinating", this option is eliminated.

(D) This sentence is so awkward that I did not even bother to finish reading it.

Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.


(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. -> "all" is modifying "finding the view...." It doesn't make sense. Incorrect.

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see. -> we don't have verb, "....view from the mountains fascinating". Incorrect.

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see. -> "Caesar’s exploration" is modifying "finding the view....fascinating" It makes sense. But, do we need progressive tense. Incorrect.

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. -> We have "is fascinating" and "is the reason" not parallel. Incorrect.

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see.-> We have "found the view...fascinating" and "thoroughly explored..." parallel. It makes sense.

So, I think E.

Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.


(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.
Main subject is Caesar. Caesar should follow the comma instead of 'all'. This is an incorrect pronoun reference.

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see.
Comma splice. This needs a FANBOYS

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see.
The exploration can't find something fascinating. Out.

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.
This is a nonsensical sentence. The view .. is the reason why all there was to see was explored by Caesar? What?

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see.
This is a clean and concise answer.

What should be followed by an opening modifier should be the entity being modified.

Modifer, Modified Entity

(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. Incorrect. wrong modification. We need Caesar after comma

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see. Two independent clause connected by a comma. Incorrect

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see. - Modifying Exploration and not Caesar. Incorrect

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. Incorrect in meaning. Implying that the view was the reason for the exploration. The Fascinating View is just one component.

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see. Correct

(E)

(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.: subject is not matching with modifier clause.

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see.: both cluases are co-related

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see. subject is not matching with modifier clause.

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.: passive voice

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see.: Perfect
_________________

Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.


(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. Incorrect

modifier error - all that was there modifies by previous clause that is logically wrong
passive form

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see. Incorrect

run-on sentence - two independent clause separated by ','

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see. Incorrect

modifier error - exploration modifies by previous clause that is logically wrong

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. Incorrect

meaning change and passive form

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see. Correct

IMO, E.

(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. - Incorrect; the subject Caeser is too far away from the modifier 'Finding the view from the mountains fascinating'

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see. --Incorrect; it is a run-on sentence as 2 individual sentences should be separated by a semi-colon not a comma.

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see. --Incorrect; illogical as the modifier 'Finding the view from the mountains fascinating' modifies Caeser's exploration instead of Caeser.

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar. --Incorrect; parallelism error as the first half of the sentence is in active voice while the second half is in passive.

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see. --Correct; it resolves all errors.

Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.

(A) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.
Incorrect. Misplace modifier. The second clause should start with Caesar.

(B) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating, he thoroughly explored all that was there to see.
Run-on.

(C) Finding the view from the mountains fascinating, Caesar’s exploration covered all that was there to see.
Incorrect. Misplace modifier. The second clause should start with Caesar, not with Caesar’s exploration

(D) The view from the mountains is fascinating and is the reason why all that was there to see was thoroughly explored by Caesar.
Incorrect.
reason that is preferred to reason why

(E) Caesar found the view from the mountains fascinating and thoroughly explored all that was there to see.
Correct

Choice E is the answer.

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________