BTGmoderatorDC wrote:For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,

(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,

(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788

(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,

(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

Hi DC,

The sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, "for almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788."
Prepositional phrases act as a modifiers, modifying the meaning of another word or phrase in the sentence.
In a grammatically well-formed sentence, a modifier should be located next to the thing it modifies.

As the sentence is originally written, the prepositional phrase is followed by the noun England.
Since England didn't "begin" in 1788, the sentence includes a modifier error.
Eliminate choices A and B, because they repeat the modifier error.

In choice C, the sentence begins with a participial phrase, "beginning a period of almost a hundred years. . . ."
Like prepositional phrases, participial phrases act as modifiers and should be located next to the things they modify.
Immediately following the participial phrase is a prepositional phrase, "in 1788".
While 1788 might have been the first year in a 100-year period, "in 1788" could not have been, so the sentence includes a modifier error.
Eliminate choice C.

In choice D, the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, "during a hundred years," which is followed by an appositive phrase, "a period beginning in 1788."
Like prepositional and participial phrases, appositive phrases (also called noun phrases) act as modifiers and should be located next to the things they modify.
The appositive phrase, "a period beginning in 1788," refers neither to "England" nor to "during a hundred years."
Again, the sentence includes a modifier error, so eliminate choice D.

The correct answer is choice E.