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Mahmud6
At 4.12 PM, you gave the problem and then at 4.13 PM, you gave the OA and OE also. What is the hurry? Where is the opportunity for a discussion?
My humble suggestion to you is to wait for a few postings before you reveal the OA or OE.
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Mahmud6
At 4.12 PM, you gave the problem and then at 4.13 PM, you gave the OA and OE also. What is the hurry? Where is the opportunity for a discussion?
My humble suggestion to you is to wait for a few postings before you reveal the OA or OE.


OK Sir, Thank you for your suggestion.
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Neither the late 18th century composers, such as Mozart or Haydn, nor Beethoven, as well as Schubert in the early 19th century, were known to compose in the suite format, so popular in the Baroque period.

(A) were known to compose
(B) were known in composing
(C) were known for composing
(D) was known to compose
(E) was known by composing

Straight D
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Mahmud6
Neither the late 18th century composers, such as Mozart or Haydn, nor Beethoven, as well as Schubert in the early 19th century, were known to compose in the suite format, so popular in the Baroque period.

(A) were known to compose
(B) were known in composing
(C) were known for composing
(D) was known to compose
(E) was known by composing

This is a neither X or nor y structure- this question is testing subjective-verb agreement within the context of the usage of this idiom- so actually the verb will be contingent on the person (second or first) of the noun next proceeding nor. Beethoven is singular so it should be D.
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Mahmud6
Neither the late 18th century composers, such as Mozart or Haydn, nor Beethoven, as well as Schubert in the early 19th century, were known to compose in the suite format, so popular in the Baroque period.

(A) were known to compose
(B) were known in composing
(C) were known for composing
(D) was known to compose
(E) was known by composing

The idiom here is "neither x nor y" and the simple rule of thumb is that the person ( singular or plural) of the verb that comes after y is determined by the person of y. So if "y" is a singular noun or pronoun then a singular verb must follow and if "Y" is a plural noun or pronoun then a plural verb must follow.

D
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Neither X nor Y ___

Rule#1: verb must agree with the subject closest to the verb (the Y component)
Rule#2(not applicable here): if Neither or Either is used in isolation (without the nor/ or, respectively) then SV = singular

In this case all subjects are singular.

Eliminate (A) to (C)

Correct idiom: Known for composing
Correct idiom: Known tocompose

Incorrect: Known as composing
Incorrect: Known by composing
suggests someone is named "composing" and they knew the people mentioned.
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A real good question with good trap doors. The idiom "Neither....nor..." will always have a subject verb agreement as per the singularity or plurality of the word that follows "nor".
Here Beethoven is that word which is singular (mind the "as well as" s-v rule). Hence we can eliminate A, B & C.
Between D and E, "by composing" has a lot of issues. "To compose" is prefered.

Hence Option D.
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