Sentence Correction

In 1983, using both ground-penetrating radar equipment-much of it constructed themselves-as well as clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, the film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker located and unearthed the massive set of DeMille's epic 1923 film The Ten Commandments.

A) much of it constructed themselves-as well as clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, the film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker

B) they constructed much of it themselves, and used clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography-Peter Brosnan and John Parker, the film enthusiasts,

C) constructing much of it themselves-and taking clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography, Peter Brosnan and John Parker were film enthusiasts who

D) they constructed much of it themselves, as well as clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography-Peter Brosnan and John Parker were film enthusiasts who

E) much of which they constructed themselves-and clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker

OAE

Hi Experts ,

I can eliminate option [spoiler]A&D because of BOTH X AS WELL Y is unidiomatic [/spoiler].

Please explain options[spoiler]B,C,& E[/spoiler]

Many thanks in advance.

SJ

jain2016 wrote:In 1983, using both ground-penetrating radar equipment-much of it constructed themselves-as well as clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, the film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker located and unearthed the massive set of DeMille's epic 1923 film The Ten Commandments.

A) much of it constructed themselves-as well as clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, the film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker

B) they constructed much of it themselves, and used clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography-Peter Brosnan and John Parker, the film enthusiasts,

C) constructing much of it themselves-and taking clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography, Peter Brosnan and John Parker were film enthusiasts who

D) they constructed much of it themselves, as well as clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography-Peter Brosnan and John Parker were film enthusiasts who

E) much of which they constructed themselves-and clues from the autobiography of film director Cecil B. DeMille, film enthusiasts Peter Brosnan and John Parker

A and D: both penetrating radar equipment...as well as clues
Here, both...as well as is unidiomatic.
Correct: both X and Y.
Eliminate A and D.

both X and Y must serve to connect PARALLEL FORMS.

B: both...equipment...and used
Here, equipment and used are not parallel forms.
Eliminate B.

C: both...equipment...and taking
Here, equipment and taking are not parallel forms.
Eliminate C.

The correct answer is E.

OA: both...equipment...and clues
Here, equipment and clues are parallel forms.

C) constructing much of it themselves-and taking clues from film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography, Peter Brosnan and John Parker were film enthusiasts who

C: both...equipment...and taking
Here, equipment and taking are not parallel forms.
Eliminate C.

Hi GMATGuruNY ,

Just a quick question,can you please advise that the uses of POSSESSIVE in option C is correct?

Please explain.

Thanks.

rsarashi wrote:Hi GMATGuruNY ,

Just a quick question,can you please advise that the uses of POSSESSIVE in option C is correct?

Please explain.

Thanks.

C: film director Cecil B. DeMille's autobiography
The apostrophe here is correctly used, but it is attached to a rather long noun phrase (film director Cecil B. Demille).
The GMAT would probably prefer the construction in the OA (the autobiography of film director Cecil B. Demille).