To attract more tourists, the canton of Zurich commissioned

Question

To attract more tourists,  the canton of Zurich commissioned several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells, having them decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and  set them up on the streets of the greater Zurich metropolitan area.
A. the canton of Zurich commissioned several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells, having them decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and
B. the canton of Zurich commissioned several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells, they were decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and then
C. the canton of Zurich commissioned several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells, had them decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and
D. several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells were commissioned by the canton of Zurich, decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and then
E. several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells, commissioned by the canton of Zurich, were decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists, and they

HI OA is  c

I just wanted confirmation on following.

The usage of had in the OA signifies that the statues were decorated by the local artists before they were put on they were put on the streets. Hence the usage of had justifies here, other being in the simple past tense. 
Can somebody confirm the understanding?

nusmavrik · Answer

Please quote the source of the question.

My 2 cents

Who wants to attract more tourists? ------------> canton of zurich. So it has to placed next to the phrase "To attract more tourists". This eliminates D and E

Between A/B/C. Its hard to choose.

Whats the OA?

Now for your answer -
1. the canton will only commission the statues
2. the local artists will decorate them before setting them on the streets of the greater metropolitan

I don't get this meaning in any of the 3 remaining choices. hence please quote the source of the question again.

Thanks

papillon86 · Answer

has to be C.

yeah time reference looks correct.

nusmavrik · Answer

I don't have a choice but C

The other choices sound so far from being normal.

ykaiim · Answer

C is correct.

Remove the middleman to check the clauses connectivity:
...the canton of Zurich   commissioned   several life-size fiberglass cow statues with chiming bells and   set   them...

Here verbs are parallel without adding any awkwardness.

The middleman -   had them decorated in a uniform pattern by local artists  , is correct because the statues are decorated before commisioned and set.

metallicafan · Answer

I think that "had" is not past perfect, it is just simple past.

Example: I had my hair cut.

As you can see there is not another event before or after.

My kudos?

papillon86 · Answer

Nice way to look at it ykaiim. :cool

seekmba · Answer

Can someone explain why A is incorrect?

gauravnagpal · Answer

As explained above in the post , remove the middleman .... having will not be the correct verb

regards

To attract more tourists, the canton of Zurich commissioned

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