For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England

Question

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788

https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,963434,00.html

Before Australia was Australia it was the antipodes, the opposite pole to civilization, an obscure and unimaginable place that was, literally, the end of the world. And before it became a nation, this orphan continent on which European history had left no mark at all became the site of a bizarre and dreadful social experiment.  For almost a hundred years, beginning in 1788 , it served as a human trash heap where England exiled some 160,000 members of its criminal class.

Aside from being wordy and awkward, choice A is illogical: because  its  refers grammatically to  England , A states nonsensically that England had  its beginning in 1788 .

Choice B is similarly illogical, because the initial verb phrase  Beginning in 1788...  modifies  England , the subject of the main clause.

Choice C is imprecise, saying that England in 1788 was  Beginning a period...  but not conveying the sense that anything happened within that period.

Choice D is awkward and unidiomatic, and nonsensically suggests that  a hundred years  is defined as  a period beginning in 1788 .

Precise and idiomatically phrased, choice E is best.

samrus98 · Accepted Answer

A & B: Suggest that England had its beginning in 1788
C: "Beginning a period of almost a hundred years" - this part seems to be without a subject.
D: This option uses 'a period beginning in 1788' as a non-essential modifier, whereas it is an essential modifier that helps in identifying the period.

ANS: E

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

A student asked me to explain why D is incorrect.

Since my explanation involves the proper use of appositive phrases (like  "a period beginning in 1788" ), here's a quick example of an appositive phrase:
George Clooney,  star of the movie Oceans 11 , does not like broccoli. 
Notice that the appositive phrase  star of the movie Oceans 11  provides some extra information. 
We already know who George Clooney is, so the appositive phrase is non-essential. 
As such, we can eliminate the appositive phrase without affecting the sentence:  George Clooney does not like broccoli .

Now let's examine D:

(D) During a hundred years,  a period beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia. 
The red part is an appositive phrase, which means it's non essential. If it's not essential, then eliminating it should have no effect on the sentence. 
If we eliminate it we get   During a hundred years, England exiled  . 
Since we no longer know WHICH 100 years we're talking about, it turns out that the information was actually needed
Eliminate D.

Cheers,
Brent

eybrj2 · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,

(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,

(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788

(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,

(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

What does "beginning" in e modify? a period or years ?

boomtangboy · Answer

Hi,

Its "a period" as nothing else would be beginning

msvel2304 · Answer

'Beginning' modifies period here not hundred years.

shikhar · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to
Australia.
(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

The best option is E....
But don't you think "Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788" modifies England and appears as if 
england were over something. 
Similarly ,
Based on old manuscripts , scholars wrote the new ones.
is wrong because the scholars are not based on manuscripts....

People please Pour in your thoughts....

nsspaz151 · Answer

"Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788" elaborates on  when  England (subject) exiled (verb) the criminals. "Over" is being used in the "span" sense instead of the "above" sense.

Over a span of 3 hours, he waited patiently for the ice cream truck. (when)
vs.
Hovering over the boy in front of him, Jim grew impatient for the ice cream. (how)

Sarang · Answer

Only thing we can say here is that E is the best among all answer choices. The next closest to it is A which becomes wordy and aqward due to usage of - "after having its beginning".

gmatcallow · Answer

I don't think (A) is right.The pronoun "Its" does not have any antecedent.The meaning is also convoluted.

(B) Modifier problem (beginning modifies England and that is certainly not the intended meaning)
(c)Modifier problem
(D)"During A hundred years" seems uncomfortable not sure although.
(E) seems fine to me.

thevenus · Answer

B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years. who/what is beginning in 1788? (B) no subject You are requested to confirm the OA , and correct the ACs because "full-stops"after every ACs is not there in the real question. Refer; https://gmatclub.com/forum/for-almost-a- ... fl=similar

joemcmamara · Answer

May i know what is the hundred years beginning.

sayantanbera21 · Answer

The statement puts forward a time frame over which these activities were carried out by England. IMO, all other options are trying to specify that time period instead of describing what really happened in those 100 years.

thangvietname · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,

(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,

(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788

(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,

(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

hard one
in B and C, beginning modify E. no logic.
in A, after a point of time , only a point of time is shown
100 years after 1789, I do this thing. 
the for make the sentence like this

a period after 1789
no logic, english has not this phrase.
A is out

in D
a hundred years, a period. so, every hundred years is a period beginning in 1789
no logic

very hard and interesting one

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.
(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years........ suggests that England is beginning in 1788 for a period....does not make sense 
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788................. England is beginning a period.........same as b does not make sense 
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788.....................during a hundred years, england did sth........during in Ing form and period as a non essential modifier is awkward.
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788

Between A and E, 
I felt both  for  and  over  usage is correct and not wrong.
for some duration, England exiled...........
Over a period, England exiled.............

but in  for phrase   its beginning  points to England as if England is beginning in 1788 again producing the same meaning error. So E is correct.

thangvietname · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to
Australia.
(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

in a
" for a hundred year' is a period which can be modified by a begining or ending point. but which can not be modified by a point of time such as "after having its begining. for a hundred year from year 10 to year 110" is logic. 
we can see it in different way
" a hundred year after having it beginning" is a point of time , so, which can not go with "for" 
a is not logic at this point. 
in B. 
begining in 1788 , england exiled. the action of begining and exile happen at the same time and have meaning relation. both time relation and meaning relation are not logic . incorrect here. 
in C. this is similar to the case in B
in D. 
look at " a hundred year, a period begining in 1788". this mean all period of 100 year is the period who begin in 1788. not logic.

pakasaip · Answer

IMO, the fatal flaw of choice D) is using "a hundred years", which change the the original meaning.
It means that England spent exact 100 years to do this action, while the original one use "almost"

arvind910619 · Answer

A is wrong as it is wordy and unnecessary use of gerund .
B changes meaning 
C is fragment 
D is also awkward 
E is correct

Kurtosis · Answer

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 , England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788 - Illogical. Appears as though England had its beginning in 1788

(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years - Same as A.

(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788 - Same as A

(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788 - Very awkward. During a 100 years is not a correct usage. Also 100 years is not a period that began in 1788.

(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788 - Correct.

Answer: E

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Option A  – the use of the phrases ‘after having’ and ‘its beginning’ suggest that England began in 1788. This is not the logical meaning here.  Eliminate. 
 
 Option B  – ‘beginning in 1788’ modifies England, suggesting that England began in 1788. This option does not convey the intended meaning.  Eliminate.

Option C  – same as B. Illogical.  Eliminate.

Option D  – the use of ‘a hundred years’ is a peccadillo. The use of the appositive here also alters the meaning.  Eliminate.

Option E  – clearly conveys the intent.

Option E  is the best option. 
 
Hope this helps!

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England

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For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England

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