vote for D

IMO D...

reason: the New England Patriots is a group of players, so singular its should be used... A&B are out..

if u see the non underlined part ASKED is there...that means past tense...so C is also out...

Now b/w D& E.... we dont require recently as adverb but recent is fine as an adjective...


Thanks
Gautam

Hi,
IMO D
1)'New England Patriots' is the name of a team(collective noun).As the subject is singular, 'its should be used.
2)the event of 'failure' precedes another past action 'asked'. So, past perfect (had) should be used.
3)failure(noun) is modified. So recent(adjective) should be used.

Saying that one of their more debilitating setbacks has been the recent unexpected failure of to win the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots asked for time alone.

(A)their more debilitating setbacks has been the recent
(B)their more debilitating setbacks has been the recently
(C)its more debilitating setbacks is the recent
(D)its more debilitating setbacks had been the recent
(E)its more debilitating setbacks had been the recently