Friedrich Miiller

[sarthak]

If by mistake I am reposting sorry for that, but I could not find any discussion on this question in the forums.

Spanning more than fifty years, Friedrich Miiller began his career in an unpromising apprenticeship as a
Sanskrit scholar and culminated in virtually every honor that European governments and learned societies
could bestow.

(A) Miiller began his career in an unpromising apprenticeship as
(B) Miiller's career began in an unpromising apprenticeship as
(C) Miiller's career began with the unpromising apprenticeship of being
(D) Miiller had begun his career with the unpromising apprenticeship of being
(E) the career of Miiller has begun with an unpromising apprenticeship of

According to my logic B and C is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence to Miller's career was bestowed the honours. E does not make any sense. D have the best tense agreement. As his career began earlier so we use a past parfect tense had begun , but of being is incorrect. A uses simple past tense which I think is wrong in the current context,otherwise a is correct.

Am I right in my reasoning ?



B is the correct answer. How is that ever possible ?

[abhi332]

Spanning more than fifty years is modifying the career on miller and not miller himself.

Therefore answer is Between B and C

I find B to better than C

[fibbonnaci]

Sarthak i think u have not got your modifiers correctly.

let me show you how you answer such questions.

what is the opening phase of the sentence- spanning fifty years. the noun starting right after this sentence is modified.

so what can span 50 years?can a person span for 50 years or career?

obviously career! so directly A and D get eliminated.

E employs present perfect tense, which is not required here coz the career is still not continuing. it spanned for 50 years and culminated too. so we need a past tense here. Eliminate E.

we are left with B and C now.
in C - miller's career began with something. Did both of them start together or something? for eg. you say, you started a company with your friends. 'with' usually means along with. how can career and apprenticeship start together something. It is absurd. Eliminated.

B makes no changes in meaning. Modifier correctly modifies the noun. tense is perfect- past tense. correct use of prepositions. There is nothing wrong with B. Hence correct!

Hope this clarifies your doubts!!