Tense issue - Manhattan CAT

Sayan_1987 wrote:In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

A) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been
B) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
C) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being
D) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
E) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

I will share the OA after sometime .

Sayan_1987 wrote:In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.

A) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been
B) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
C) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being
D) would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
E) took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

I will share the OA after sometime .

Sayan_1987 wrote:OA - D

Not sure why the answer is D. I also answered B . Can anyone explain please ?

ankit0411 wrote:

Sayan_1987 wrote:OA - D

Not sure why the answer is D. I also answered B . Can anyone explain please ?

Reading the question again, I think I found the issue.

In B, using past tense in both the clauses means that both the events happened at the same time whereas this is not the case.

The book was first born and then completed after 60 years.

So we actually need to have different tense for both and indicate that both the events are happening at different times.

Second half of the statement has to be simple past with "was" .

For something that was started in 1820 and completed after 60 years we surely will need a "would".

Hence, strike off B and arrive at D.