Sentence Correction

sui generis wrote:I have a simple doubt in explanation choice C: OG says in the opening phrase, reception needs to modify BM's work rather than the whole clause. I don't understand why a 'reception' a noun needs to modify the subject of the following clause (it isn't a verb-ing or verb-ed modifier)

Below is the sentence structure:

After long years of indifferent reception by SC, Barbara's work xxxxxxxxx

To me the blue part seems like a prep phrase which should modify the whole following clause not just the subject of the following clause.

Please correct my understanding here. Thanks

After long years of indifferent reception by the scientific community, Barbara McClintock's subtle work on the genetics of corn has now been acknowledged to be of major importance.

Here, the modifier in red serves primarily as an adverb, providing context for HOW Barbara McClintock's work HAS NOW BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED.
Under what circumstances HAS Barbara McClintock's work now BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED?
It has been acknowledged AFTER LONG YEARS OF INDIFFERENT RECEPTION.

Nonetheless, at the same time the modifier provides information about the SUBJECT of the following clause, since it was Barbara McClintock's WORK that suffered LONG YEARS OF INDIFFERENT RECEPTiON.
It is for this reason that the subject of the following clause must be what suffered long years of indifferent reception: Barbara McClintock's work.

Since the modifier in red provides information about both the subject and the verb of the following clause, it can be said to modify the ENTIRE CLAUSE.

Please note that reception is a NOUN.
Here, it serves as the object of the preposition of.
After long years of WHAT?
After long years of INDIFFERENT RECEPTION.