Since its opening in 1869 the Suez Canal has made transportation by w

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION






• Split #1: Improper modification

After the introductory phrase "Since its opening in 1869," we should be reading about the Suez Canal.
That adjective phrase modifies the noun Suez canal.
Noun modifiers should be as close as possible to their nouns.

Options D and E place "Suez canal" far from its modifier and worse, place the wrong noun after that introductory phrase ("transportation by water" and "Europe and Asia maritime transportation," respectively)
Eliminate D and E.

In addition, the passive voice in option D is not as effective as the active voice in option C.
This sentence does not aim to downplay the importance or "agency" of the Suez Canal, an effect that the passive voice often creates.
To the contrary, this sentence highlights the importance of the Suez Canal. Active voice is better than passive voice in this case.

In option B, the modifier by water is separated from its noun, transportation.
In order to preserve clarity and follow the "Touch Rule" (noun modifiers should be as close as possible to their targets), by water should be placed right next to transportation.

Option B also contains some strange phrasing: The Suez Canal has eased . . . transportation between X and Y . . . to a greater degree.
→ this coupling is strange: "eased XYZ to a greater degree" at worst is nonsensical and at best is not nearly as good as the language in option C.
→ to a greater degree is not necessary; the verb eased already implies improvement.

ELIMINATE B, D, AND E

• Split #2: Among v. Between

The general rule is that we use between if we are comparing two items and among if we are comparing more than two items.
That general rule is not the whole story; there are exceptions, though you will probably never see them and if you do, it will be on a hard SC.

That said, when we are talking about a connection that goes from one place to one other place (two places total), we always use between to describe that connection.
Wrong: The cozy relationship among Trump and Putin disturbs many national security analysts.

Option A incorrectly uses among Europe and Asia. The correct phrase is between Europe and Asia.
ELIMINATE A

The best answer is C.

COMMENTS

Victorz and thangvietnam , welcome to SC Butler.

These answers range from very good to excellent.
Most of you display cogent and easily followed reasoning, even if some of you took a wrong turn once or twice.

I liked the varied approaches and different writing styles.
Lucky are they who follow.

I am glad to see everyone.
Stay safe.