Building on civilizations that preceded them in coastal

Question

Building on civilizations that preceded them in coastal Peru, the Mochica developed their own elaborate society,  based on cultivating such crops like corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and shellfish, and exploiting  other wild and domestic resources.
(A) based on cultivating such crops like corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and shellfish, and exploiting
(B) based on the cultivation of such crops as corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and seafood, and the exploitation of
(C) and basing it on the cultivation of crops like corn and beans, harvesting fish and seafood, and the exploiting of
(D) and they based it on their cultivation of crops such as corn and beans, the harvest of fish and seafood, and exploiting
(E) and they based it on their cultivating such crops like corn and beans, their harvest of fish and shellfish, and they exploited

mrik · Answer

IMO B.

Such as should be used so only B and D left.

B is the answer because based on the cultivation, the harvesting and the exploitation are parallel

gaurav2k101 · Answer

I know that harvestation is not a word but how are the cultivation, the harvesting and the exploitation parallel. 
Please explain.

mrik · Answer

In this sentence the use of "the harvesting of crops" is a good example of gerund. Gerund is the -ing form of a verb which is used as a noun. Hence, here "the harvesting of crops" which is noun becomes parallel to the other nouns - cultivation & exploitation. Note - Dont forget the "Kudos" if this explanation has helped you

gaurav2k101 · Answer

Cheers ... its clear now ... thanks buddy

seekmba · Answer

we need "crops such as" and not "crops like"

only B and D remain

D is wrong with "they" and "their"

only B remains

Building on civilizations that preceded them in coastal

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