Hi Nijo,

The correct answer is E.

Answer A makes the sentence non-sensical, because is is impossible that Joan would attend so many meetings and review so many applications as a former (i.e. no longer participating) chair and board member. She can't both participate and no longer participate in the work of the board for 28 years. Eliminate A.

Answer B is similarly unlikely, even though it is conceivable that someone who once was the chair of the board might still be interested in the work of the board. But B is grammatically wrong. THE former chair etc. for 28 years... WHAT? The sentence just plows into her name, and then tells us what. The order is incorrect. Eliminate B.

Answer C is the closest to being correct, but violates the parallelism rule because of the redundant use of the indefinite article "a". "Former chair of the planning board and a board member..." Eliminate C.

Answer D is clearly incorrect, beginning with "she" with no antecedent to explain who she is. Swapping the position of the pronoun "she" with "Joan Phikill" would still leave an incomplete, and thus incorrect, sentence. Eliminate D.

Answer E is correct!