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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
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Introduced by Italian merchants resident in London during the sixteenth century, in England life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically being ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders.
A. in England life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically being
B. in England life insurance had remained until the end of the seventeenth century a specialized contract between individual underwriters with their clients, who typically were
C. until the end of the seventeenth century life insurance in England had remained a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically
D. life insurance in England remained until the end of the seventeenth century a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically
E. life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century in England a specialized contract between individual underwriters with their clients, who typically were
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning of this sentence is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that in England until the end of the seventeenth century, life insurance remained a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, who were typically ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• The introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “being” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
• “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
• When the chronology is clear because of terms such as "before/after/when/earlier/later"…or because of clear mention of dates, the use of past perfect tense is not required, though not incorrect either.
A:1/ The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "being ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "being" in this sentence)" construction illogically implies that in England until the end of the seventeenth century, life insurance remained a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients
because life insurance was typically ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders; the intended meaning is that in England until the end of the seventeenth century, life insurance remained a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, and
as a separate action, these
clients were typically ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders; remember, the introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “being” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
B:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("individual underwriters") with B ("their clients")"; remember, “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
2/ The sentence formed by Option B redundantly uses the past perfect tense verb "had remained" alongside the terms "sixteenth century" and "seventeenth century", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; remember, when the chronology is clear because of terms such as "before/after/when/earlier/later"…or because of clear mention of dates, use past perfect tense is not required, though not incorrect either.
3/ Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase "who typically were", leading to further awkwardness and redundancy.
C:1/ The sentence formed by this answer choice redundantly uses the past perfect tense verb "had remained" alongside the terms "sixteenth century" and "seventeenth century", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; remember, when the chronology is clear because of terms such as "before/after/when/earlier/later"…or because of clear mention of dates, use past perfect tense is not required, though not incorrect either.
D: Correct.1/ The sentence formed by this answer choice modifies the noun "clients" with the phrase "typically ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders", avoiding the modifier error seen in Option A and conveying the intended meaning - that in England until the end of the seventeenth century, life insurance remained a specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, and
as a separate action, these
clients were typically ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders.
2/ Option D correctly uses the idiomatic construction "between A ("individual underwriters") and B ("their clients")".
3/ Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E:1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("individual underwriters") with B ("their clients")"; remember, “between A and B” is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
2/ Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase "who typically were", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Comma Plus Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship", you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team