Sentence Correction

In ancient Celtic Europe, the Beating of the Bounds were a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township meant to protect the area from evil spirits although the reasoning behind those thrashes are still vague.

A. Bounds were a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township meant to protect the area from evil spirits although the reasoning

B. Bounds, meant to protect an area from evil spirits, was performed by a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township although the reasons

C. Bounds was a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township meant to protect the area from evil spirits although the reasoning is

D. Bounds, a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township, were meant to protect the area from evil spirits although the rationale

E. Bounds was a series of ritualistic thrashes with a hazel or birch branch on the limits of a village or township means to protect the area from evil spirits although the reasons

Explanation:
Answer choice A is grammatically incorrect and contains two Subject Verb agreement mistakes.

Firstly, 'Beating of the Bounds' is an 'X of Y' subject. In such cases, the verb should agree with X - beating. 'Beating' is singular since a subject in the form of Verb+ing is considered a singular subject. However, the verb 'were' is plural.

Secondly and similarly, the singular subject 'reasoning' does not agree with the plural verb 'are.'

B - correct!

C - Although it partially corrects the original mistake, this answer choice does not fit into the original sentence. The verb 'is' which was added at the end of the underlined part clashes with the verb 'are' at the end of the sentence.

D - This answer choice repeats both original Subject Verb Agreement mistakes.

Secondly and similarly, the singular subject 'rationale' does not agree with the plural verb 'are.'

E - Although it corrects both original Subject Verb Agreement mistakes, this answer choice is illogical. Changing the word 'meant' into 'means' in the middle of the sentence creates an illogical, meaningless sentence.