Concerns about public health led to the construction between 1876 and

Yes A is correct because of misplaced modifiers and verb tense reasons.
D and E are out. D b/c this sentence tells you that the occurrence (leading) happened in the past (b/n 1876 and 1903) so leading should be led instead (Same reason for eliminating E as well).
E can also be eliminated b/c a clearer sentence can be created when "leading" is placed closer to the phrase "to the construction of three separate sewer systems". Not to say that the verb tense leading is correct, by the way.
C is out b/c have led is not the correct verb tense that should be used here. You are trying to convey that that action happened and ended in the past, no that it continues to the present. SO you must use led. For that same reason you can eliminate B.

HTH

D is out because it changes the meaning.

Original: concerns led to the construction
D: there were some concerns leading to the construction

concerns about public health LED to the construction .. not some of these concerns.

The following examples will make the point clearer.
all students play games.
there are students who play games.

The sentence talks about a specific time in the past , further the action was completed in the past time frame and hence only Simple past tense should be used -

Simple Past -



Hence answer must be (A)

Please visit the following link for clearing the concepts ( if required ) of Verb Tenses in English -

https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepast.html

Hi everyone,
Concerns about public health led to the construction of three separate sewer systems to serve metropolitan Boston.
Doesn't this choice separates modifier of three separate sewer system away from the noun. As far I know noun modifier should place close to the noun. Here, we can replace between 1876 and 1904 in a convenient place and thereby place the modifier close to the noun.

Although it is preferable to place a modifier next to the noun it modifies, it is acceptable to insert another "mission critical" (term coined by Manhatan GMAT) modifier in between the noun and the modifier. In such case the modifier refers to the noun and the "mission critical" modifier together.

Here the modifier "of three separate sewer systems" refers to "construction between 1876 and 1904 " (noun + "mission critical" modifier) as a whole.

Manhattan SC guide (cannot provide a link, you need to buy the book)- here is the excerpt:

In general, noun modifiers must touch their nouns. However, there are a few exceptions to the Touch Rule.
1. A “mission-critical” modifier falls between. This modifier is often an "Of" phrase that defines the noun. The less important modifier refers to the noun plus the first modifier.
Right: He had a way OF DODGING OPPONENTS that impressed the scouts.
Here, the “mission-critical” modifier of dodging opponents defines the noun way. Without this modifier, the noun way is almost meaningless. In turn, the modifier that impressed the scouts modifies the entire noun phrase a way o f dodging opponents.

Hi sayantanc2k, i agree why A is supposed to be the right answer , but i have one more doubt about B. we use has/have in those cases also where result of something is still valid.
have led to the construction between dates.
can't we say the result is still valid, so have is correct here.

please clarify.

As given in the sentence:
The effect of the verb "to lead" was "the construction", which took place long time ago. There is no effect of the verb "to lead" now. Present perfect would be correct, if the contribution still continued at present.

This question is based on Construction.

The intended meaning of this sentence is that because there were concerns about public health, three separate sewer systems were constructed between the years 1876 and 1904. These sewer systems were meant to serve metropolitan Boston.

Option B contains a tense error. It has the present perfect tense “have led” but the sentence is about something that happened in the past - between 1876 and 1904. The correct tense would be the simple past tense. So, [color=#ff0000]Option B can be eliminated.

Option C contains the same tense error as Option B. It also contains an idiomatic error – for serving. The correct usage is – to serve. So, Option C can also be eliminated.

In Option D, the use of the participles “leading” and “serving” leads to an inconsistency in the time frame that is conveyed. The sentence makes a statement about the past and there is no sense of continuity required. So, Option D can be eliminated.

Option E is distorted. It conveys the meaning that there were concerns connecting the two years mentioned. The placement of the phrase ‘leading between’ immediately before the two years is indicative of that meaning. There is also an idiomatic error – for serving. The correct idiom is “to serve”. So, Option E can be eliminated.

Option A has the most appropriate order of words and the correct idiomatic usage. Therefore, A is the best option.

Jayanthi Kumar.

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