umaa wrote:The rules of engagement under which a border patrol station can decide to use deadly force includes responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of hostile fire.

A. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of

B. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and returning

C. include responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of

D. include a response to an invasionary incursion and the return of

E. include a response to an invasionary incursion and returning

IMO D.

A. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of

Rules....includes = S-V mismatch.

B. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and returning
Rules....includes = S-V mismatch.

C. include responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of
include X and Y. X and Y should be parallel....

Here X = responding = verb.
Y = the return = noun.

D. include a response to an invasionary incursion and the return of
Correct.

E. include a response to an invasionary incursion and returning
include X and Y. X and Y should be parallel....

Here X = response = noun
Y = returning = verb

D.The rules....... include a response to an invasionary incursion and the return of hostile fire.

umaa wrote:The rules of engagement under which a border patrol station can decide to use deadly force includes responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of hostile fire.

A. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of

B. includes responding to an invasionary incursion and returning

C. include responding to an invasionary incursion and the return of

D. include a response to an invasionary incursion and the return of

E. include a response to an invasionary incursion and returning

IMO [spoiler][E][/spoiler]

[A] and {B} are out because-
"the rules" is plural and so require plural verb "include" ... X and Y.

[C] is not parallel

[D] include X and the return of fire, meaning the the technique used is return of hostile fire and not returning hostile fire?

One combats fire with fire and not by the return of fire.

Hence IMO [spoiler][E][/spoiler]