Feruza Matyakubova wrote:In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

a. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been

b. took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

c. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being

d. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was

e. took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

IMO D

Although project would take ....., Oxford dict was born.

OA pls?

whats the OA ??

i think it should be B

would go for D

the project referred to is the " launch of the efforts to create the dictionary". since the efforts were started in 1860, the project was born/launched in 1860. the use of "was" seems proper.

between B and D,
B uses past tense "took" to talk about completion as if the project was completed before it was born.

D seems better as it says:(at the time of the commentary) it would take 60 years to complete=> completion would happen in the future- so use of would fits in

others are even worse:

A. uses past perfect continuous "had been" for the launch/birth of the project which was completed in 1860

C. uses "was being" as if the launchbirth of the project was still continuing

E. says completion of the project happened before it was born/launched.

OA is D

Thanks guys!