Sentence Correction

Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War, Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left.
(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War


(C) Because there had been a sniper’s bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War.

[spoiler]
OA: E
Can someone explain the usage and non-usage of 'In spite of'.[/spoiler]

I picked (B). I see the OA to be E I am surprised!

a, b, d are verbs of "being" - which granted aren't always wrong.

C uses had been - there is no use to distinguish multiple past events with had (past perfect).

So E remains

E is correct as C has changed the meaning itself

The question seems to be more of a plain statement than laying emphasis on Pippin's ability. So we don't need the 'In spite of'.

rseeker2 wrote:The question seems to be more of a plain statement than laying emphasis on Pippin's ability. So we don't need the 'In spite of'.

This is a classic example of "nominative absolute".

Quoting wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominative_absolute
Stephen searched frantically for a dictionary. His mind was taxed.

anshulseth wrote:Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War, Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left.
(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(C) Because there had been a sniper’s bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War.

[spoiler]
OA: E
Can someone explain the usage and non-usage of 'In spite of'.[/spoiler]

In spite of is use to express contrast. It must be followed by a noun. Idem despite of. Be carefull with altough and however they must be followed by a clause.

A) Not parallel (having... and...being crippled)
B) Passive voice
C) Awkard+ change meaning (Because...there had been a bullet--ridiculous)
D) Idem B (being crippled)
E) Parallelism (right hand and arm crippled) is ok. No grammar mistakes. Meaning ok. So this is correct.

anshulseth wrote:Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War, Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left.
(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War


(C) Because there had been a sniper’s bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War.

[spoiler]
OA: E
Can someone explain the usage and non-usage of 'In spite of'.[/spoiler]

Quite interesting, indeed! I opted for .

Anshul,
Can you please please UNDERLINE the part under question in SC? That'll benefit all.

My mistake, that I copy pasted, and so did not get the underlined part. Will take care in future.