Sentence Correction

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) had been originally adopted in order that blacks in the post-Civil War South be given the full benefit of citizenship, but over the past century and a half they are expanding it to include all categories of civil rights.

A) had been originally adopted in order that blacks in the post-Civil War South be given the full benefit of citizenship, but over the past century and a half they are expanding it to include
B) was originally adopted to give blacks in the post-Civil War South the full benefit of citizenship, but over the past century and a half it has been expanded to include
C) had been originally adopted to give blacks in the post-Civil War South the full benefit of citizenship, while over the past century and a half was expanding it to include
D) had been originally adopted to give blacks in the post-Civil War South the full benefit of citizenship, and over the past century and a half has expanded to include
E) had been originally adopted by giving blacks in the post-Civil War South the full benefit of citizenship, and over the past century and a half they have been expanding it to include


OA B

Source: Magoosh

Looking at choices, first we focus on past perfect tense "had been adopted". This tense means event happened before other past event. Here, it seems unnecessary. We know Amendment was adopted in past (1868), but we don't have second past event to compare. So, choice (B) using simple past "was adopted" may be better.

We see "they are expanding" or "it has been expanded". Who is "they"? Sentence does not say. Better to say "it" meaning the Amendment. And "are expanding" is present continuous tense, this is not right for event happening over past century and a half. We should use "has been expanded", this is present perfect tense for actions in past continuing to now. So again, (B) looks better.

Considering these things, answer is (B): "was originally adopted to give blacks in the post-Civil War South the full benefit of citizenship, but over the past century and a half it has been expanded to include".