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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
i dont think "had been" is necessary, so i ruled out A.

But btwn B and D, im stuck because i dont know whether 'took' is better than 'would take'
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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
eyunni wrote:
In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

(A) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been
(B) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
(C) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being
(D) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
(E) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

Please explain your answers.
Source MGMAT.


B. It is between B and E but B should be better than E.
Would in ACD doesnot sound good.
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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
eyunni wrote:
In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

(A) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been

(B) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

(C) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being

(D) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

(E) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

Please explain your answers.
Source MGMAT.


I pick D.

B is wrong because 'took' which is in the simple past requires 'had been born' to convey a past action that took place before another past action.
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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
what's the OA for this?

Personally, I think its a showdown between B and D!
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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
GK_Gmat wrote:
eyunni wrote:
In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

(A) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been

(B) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

(C) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being

(D) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

(E) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

Please explain your answers.
Source MGMAT.


I pick D.

B is wrong because 'took' which is in the simple past requires 'had been born' to convey a past action that took place before another past action.


GK_Gmat, Are you a native speaker? You got that one right. OA is D. But can you/anyone provide a more detailed explanation?



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Re: In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to [#permalink]
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