Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,

E for me too.

In D, the opening modifier incorrectly modifies "chapter" or to be more precise "the textbook's chapter". Textbook is only in the possessive form and hence cannot be considered as the noun being modified. The "its" in the modifier also does not properly apply to "textbook"

IMO E os best...whats the OA? In E the phrase before the first comma, correctly modifies the textbook (rather than chapters) left with C and E the construction sounds better with E as it points to the contrast cited with "Given...." appropriately!

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.
A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads
B) the chapter of the text book on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading
C) the text book contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads
D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads
E) the text book is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

The sentence tells us about a book that covers a number of science topics and of those the chapter on genetics is tentative, and this tentative genetics chapter leads one to doubt the author's competency in Genetics.

From the participial, subject should be "the text book" => A, B, D out.
C: break the adjectives in conjunction-> the text book contains a surprising chapter on Genetics AND the text book contains a tentative chapter on Genetics
1st Part, what is so surprising in finding a chapter on genetics in a book on multiple topics from science ? - Absurd
E: Correct one. Maintains the mood of the sentence. Surprisingly tentative... one to doubt

Additionally, the construction "Participial + Main + Participial" is more symmetric than "Participial + Main + Relative" Construction -> This one is not needed to answer the question.

Good Question. Source ?

The opening modifier should modify textbook, not the chapters. Eliminate A, B and D.
eliminate C - "which" incorrectly modifies genetics

E is correct. In E,
1. opening modifier is correctly modifying textbook
2. verbing (Leading) modifier is correctly depicting cause-effect relationship required in the sentence.

Authoritative coverage of science topics - should direct to the textbook rather than chapter in the book.
Eliminate A, B and D

C - Eliminated because of the use of 'And'

Chose E - modifying the text book instead of the chapter.

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.