Bunuel wrote:
Having the entire body being paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, a French journalist, wrote his memoir,
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next.
A. Having the entire body being paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995
B. In spite of his entire body being paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995
C. Because there had been a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995 that paralyzed his entire body
D. His entire body paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995
E. The entire body being paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995
Experts' Global Official Explanation:
A. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the passive continuous tense verb phrase “having the entire body being…”, incorrectly implying that the paralysis of Jean Dominique Bauby was an ongoing action; the intended meaning of this sentence is that Jean Dominique Bauby was paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995, and for this reason he wrote his memoir by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next.
B. Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “in spite of his entire body…”, incorrectly introducing a sense of contrast and implying that Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoir by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next, in contrast to the fact that his entire body had been paralyzed by a stroke; the intended meaning is that because his entire body was paralyzed by a stroke, Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoir by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next. Further, this answer choice incorrectly uses the passive continuous tense verb phrase “his entire body being…”, awkwardly and incorrectly implying that the paralysis of Jean Dominique Bauby was an ongoing action.
C. This answer choice incorrectly uses “that paralyzed his entire body” to modify “the 8th of December, 1995”, illogically implying that the date 8th of December, 1995 paralyzed Jean-Dominique Bauby’s entire body; the intended meaning of this sentence is that because his entire body was paralyzed by a stroke, Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next.
D. Correct. This answer choice correctly uses “his entire body paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995” to modify “-Dominique Bauby, a French journalist, wrote his memoir… by blinking …”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that because his entire body was paralyzed by a stroke, Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next. Further, this choice avoids the unnecessary usage of the passive continuous verb “being” and corrects the awkward meaning that the paralysis of Jean Dominique Bauby was an ongoing action.
E. This answer choice incorrectly uses the passive continuous tense verb phrase “The entire body being…”, incorrectly implying that the paralysis of Jean Dominique Bauby was an ongoing action; the intended meaning of this sentence is the Jean Dominique Bauby was paralyzed by a stroke on the 8th of December, 1995, and for this reason he wrote his memoir by blinking to indicate to a transcriber which letter to write next.