Correct answer E. This is not an
OG or GMAC question. It is written by Veritas Prep, I believe. I don't think we need to worry about knowing if Obama was the author of Audacity of Hope here.
(A) Selling two hundred thousand copies in its first month, the publication of The Audacity of Hope in 2006 was an instant hit, helping to establish Barack Obama as a viable candidate for president.
A is wrong because the modifier "Selling 200,000 copies in its first month", should be used for the book not the publication.
(B) The publication in 2006 of The Audacity of Hope was an instant hit: in its first month it sold two hundred thousand copies and it helped establish Barack Obama as a viable candidate for president.
The publication cannot be an instant it. only the book can be an instant hit. out
(C) Helping to establish Barack Obama as a viable candidate for president was the publication of The Audacity of Hope in 2006, which as an instant hit: it sold two hundred thousand copies in its first month.
here which as an instant hot should modify 2006, but is actually intended for the book. Wrong
(D) The Audacity of Hope was an instant hit: it helped establish Barack Obama as a viable candidate for president, selling two hundred thousand copies in its first month and published in 2006.
selling 200,000 copies in first month and published in 2006 incorrectly modifies candidate. Wrong
(E) The Audacity of Hope, published in 2006, was an instant hit: in its first month, it sold two hundred thousand copies and helped establish its author, Barack Obama, as a viable candidate for president.
This is grammatically correct and logically meaningful. Even if the fact presented here was a piece of fiction, there is nothing wrong.