Hi

To me B seems to be correct as the Philological Society started working in 1860 and it took them 60 years
so the action is completed in past so i would chose "took" rather than "would"

and b/w B and E B seems more logical as the action is completed in past so usage of was seems to be correct

Whats the OA?

would go for D

it seems the commentary is made in 1860 and looks into the future from a point of time in 1860.

so B and E are out.

A. the launch of the project = birth of the dictionary. so A gets the sequence wrong, it says dictionary has just finished being born before the project started.

C. also gets the sequence wrong. says dictionary was being born after the project started.

D. correct, launch of the project happened with the birth of the dictionary. uses the same tense "launched" and "was"

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.

First phrase sets the time at the launching of the effort to produce the dictionary. Hence, it's not yet complete. Only option C "would take"/"was being" presents the dictionary as not actually complete yet.

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

thetrystero 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.

First phrase sets the time at the launching of the effort to produce the dictionary. Hence, it's not yet complete. Only option C "would take"/"was being" presents the dictionary as not actually complete yet.

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

How do you justify your statement that........."First phrase sets the time at the launching of the effort to produce the dictionary. Hence, it's not yet complete. Only option C "would take"/"was being" presents the dictionary as not actually complete yet."

IMO (B) is correct option whats the OA?

tohellandback 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

Answer is D. In 1960 it would take 60 more years. We are in the past and talking about the future.

@tohellandback What's the OA please?

D IMO. It needs a would there. and only two options have would. ANd one of the has being so i chose D

@Sher1 - Please explain

If you are in the past and talking about the future, how can you use "was born"

IMO - B.

Sher1 wrote:

tohellandback 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

Answer is D. In 1960 it would take 60 more years. We are in the past and talking about the future.

OA is D

not clear why the answer is D

mehravikas wrote:@Sher1 - Please explain

If you are in the past and talking about the future, how can you use "was born"

IMO - B.

Sher1 wrote:

tohellandback 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

Answer is D. In 1960 it would take 60 more years. We are in the past and talking about the future.

there is nothing to do with a person in past or present .. the correct answer is D due to the construction of this sentence..
think logically how awkward is it to say that "In 1860......; although the project took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was born" this changes the meaning..
D is correct coz it maintains the meaning of the sentence and is clear..
Read the entire sentence with statement D and then read the entire statement again with statement B this time.. I am sure u'll notice the difference..