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I think we can eliminate A, D and E due to tense / verb problems

I think C is incorrect as it says the 3 animals were the first passengers
to ascend from Versailles while the intent is to mention that they
were the first to go on a balloon.

Tough one between B and C. I'll choose B

whats the source???????

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C wrongly alters the meaning of the sentence - it makes you believe that the sheep, duck and rooster were the first balloon passengers that ascended from Versailles (instead of the first passengers ever!)
D is also faulty for similar reasons
E - continuous tense is wrong
A - that "were" ascended is wrong usage
Hence B

I would have to agree its between B and C and C alters the meaning so B would be my answer. Is there confirmation on the correct answer?

My take is one A...as the birds etc can't ascend themselves..so they have to be object of the action and so they were ascended should be correct.

@Experts : Can u pls look into this.

I think E is the answer as in all other options that is used for plural antecedent. The present participle seems to be modifying passengers appropriately.

Let's dissect this one:

A. The first balloon passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster that were ascended from Versailles.

"were ascended from" is unidiomatic. Discard A.

B. The first balloon passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster that ascended from Versailles.

This one corrects idiom problem with the original sentence. It also maintains the intended meaning of the sentence. Let's keep it as a contender.

C. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were the first balloon passengers that ascended from Versailles.
Even though this is grammatically correct, it changes the intended meaning. It makes it seem as if the three animals were the passengers in the "first balloon flight from Versailles." and not necessarily "the first ever balloon flight".
Discard C.

D. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster that were the first balloon passengers to ascend from Versailles.
This one is an incomplete sentence. Discard D.

E. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were the first balloon passengers ascending from Versailles.
Two problems with this one. It's a worse option than C because not only does it change the intended meaning by placement of "balloon" close to "ascending" , but also changes the form from past participle to past progressive, which can't be used to describe a historical event by itself. Discard E.

This only leaves us with B as the best and the only correct option.

The first balloon passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster that were ascended from Versailles, France, in a basket beneath a hot-air balloon in September 1783.

A.
B. The first balloon passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster that ascended
C. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were the first balloon passengers that ascended
D. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster that were the first balloon passengers to ascend
E. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were the first balloon passengers ascending

a tough one

I think the answer is C here.
As D,E are eliminated because of the tense usage. The questions stem states that it happened in 1973 so these options are OUT.A is wrong because of passive construction.

Now coming to B and C. IF you observe closely the meaning

B actually says that the First pasengers were sheep,duck ect which is not what the sentence says.

C says that of all passengers till now , Sheep,Duck etc were first to be ascended.

This is a bit tricky one,but not a tough one.

OA pls. Also , please tell the source from which this sentence was picked.

In ans choice (B), is the modifier "that" not modifying only "a rooster" ?

Is this an exception to the "touch rule"?