Official Explanation
In an effort to support the development of underwater museums, Greece decided
that scuba divers are granted permission for touring designated shipwrecks.
A. that scuba divers are granted permission for touring
B. that scuba divers be granted permission for touringC. to grant scuba divers permission to tour
D. granting scuba divers permission for tours of
E. the granting of permission that scuba divers tourAll of our answer choices have slightly different options, so let’s review our answer choices one by one. The first part of the non-underlined portion of the sentence is a dependent clause, so we can ignore it.
Option A: Greece decided that scuba divers are granted permission for touring designated shipwrecks.
“Decided” is not underlined, so this is a verb that cannot be changed. It is in the past tense, so “are” should be in the past tense as well. It is not, so Option A cannot be the best answer.
Option B: Greece decided that scuba divers be granted permission for touring designated shipwrecks.
This sentence uses the term “be granted.” This is only correct in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express a demand, wish, request, or something improbable. “Decided” is not a subjunctive verb, so the subjunctive form cannot be used. Option B is not the correct answer.
Option C: Greece decided to grant scuba divers permission to tour designated shipwrecks.
In this sentence the infinitive “to grant” is the direct object of the verb (decided). “To tour designated shipwrecks” is an infinitive phrase that modifies permission. There is nothing grammatically wrong with this sentence, and it makes sense. This could be the answer.
Option D: Greece decided granting scuba divers permission for tours of designated shipwrecks.
“Granting” is a participle, which acts like an adjective, but the verb “decided” needs an object. An adjective by itself cannot be a verb’s object, so this sentence is not grammatical. Option D cannot be the correct answer.
Option E: Greece decided the granting of permission that scuba divers tour designated shipwrecks.
The sentence does not have an object for the verb “decided.” “Decided” needs an object, so this sentence is not grammatical. Even if “the granting” could be an object, the underlined portion uses passive language, which should be avoided. Option E cannot be the correct answer.
We have successfully eliminated four answer choices. Option C is the best answer.