Scorched by fire, stained by water, and inscribed in cramped handwriti

Question

Scorched by fire, stained by water, and inscribed in cramped handwriting,  the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, depending  instead on English sources for information.

(A) the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, depending
(B) the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, who depended
(C) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City, depending
(D) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City and depended
(E) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City, they depended

gvij2017 · Answer

Between A and B, B is out because of use of comma before who. 
In A, depending instead on historical information" is modifier and modifying the historians. 
It it absolute phrase.

In my view, A is correct.

itoyj · Answer

1- modifier issue Eliminates C,D,E
2-Historians depended on English sources of information earlier and this is clearly modified in option B

daagh · Answer

Scorched by fire, stained by water, and inscribed in cramped handwriting, t he seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, depending  instead on English sources for information.

(A) the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, depending ---  the adverbial modifier ", depending" does not synchronize with the subject of the previous clause namely 'the documents'.   
(B) the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City were long ignored by historians, who depended --  The correct choice.  
(C) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City, depending ---  the modification is wrong  .  Choice says the historians were scorched and stained and inscribed.  
(D) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City and depended --  the same problem as in C 
(E) historians long ignored the seventeenth-century Dutch documents on the beginnings of New York City, they depended --  the same problem as in D and in addition, this is a comma splice.

Archit3110 · Answer

gvij2017 option B would be correct because “who depended” correctly modifies historians.. where as in option A “depending” modifies “seventeenth-century Dutch Documents” hope this helps

VerbalBot · Answer

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Scorched by fire, stained by water, and inscribed in cramped handwriti

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