Sentence Correction

[BTGmoderatorRO]

Rockets, like the airplane and the jet, were rapidly improved during World War II.
(A) Rockets, like the airplane and the jet, were
(B) The rocket, like airplanes and jets, was
(C) Rockets, like airplanes and jets, was
(D) The rocket, like the airplane and the jet, were
(E) The rocket, like the airplane and the jet, was

OA is E
Is the use of Article 'The' an important part of this question.