It's a modifier problem. the first part of the sentence before the comma is a modifier - a descriptive clause that has no subject or verb on its own, and is not standalone - it modifies/describes something else.

The rule with such a modifier appearing before the comma is that it MUST modify the noun immediately after the comma. Therefore, the noun after the comma needs to be a noun that can logically be described by the modifying clause.

Which brings us to the problem with A: logically, the scholars are not based on accounts of various writers. E solves that problem by changing the modifier to a clause that can logically describe the scholars: scholars could be "using accounts".

Geva@MasterGMAT wrote:It's a modifier problem. the first part of the sentence before the comma is a modifier - a descriptive clause that has no subject or verb on its own, and is not standalone - it modifies/describes something else.

The rule with such a modifier appearing before the comma is that it MUST modify the noun immediately after the comma. Therefore, the noun after the comma needs to be a noun that can logically be described by the modifying clause.

Which brings us to the problem with A: logically, the scholars are not based on accounts of various writers. E solves that problem by changing the modifier to a clause that can logically describe the scholars: scholars could be "using accounts".

Thanks Geva. However, i need a little further explanation (I´m not a native speaker).
I know the rule related to missplaced modifiers but what i do not is the diference in meaning of "Based on accounts f" & "Using accounts.
Thanks in advance!

It's a simple logic error: is the author based on the accounts? The scholar, as a human being, cannot be 'based on an account' - a human is not based on a story by an ancient writer. His OPINION, his RESEARCH, his THEORY can be based on an account of various ancient writers.