'manpreet singh wrote:As the former chair of the planning board for 18 consecutive years and a board member for 28 years, Joan Philips attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.
(A) As the former
(B) The former
(C) Former
(D) She was
(E) As the
ans e
This is a question that tests you on your ability to understand the intended meaning of the sentence. Logically, Philips could have attended 400+ meetings and reviewed 700+ rezoning applications only as the chairperson of the planning board. These are things she has done while discharging her duties as the chairperson. Therefore, the use of 'former' is incorrect, eliminating options A, B and C.
Option D is a run-on sentence and is grammatically incorrect. Thus,E is the correct answer.