Modifier - nearest noun or subject of sentence.

[gmatrant]

Many of the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India date from the time of the
Kushan empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan
grey schist.
A. empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
B. empire, fashioned from either the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
C. empire, either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
D. empire and either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
E. empire and were fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from

In OG for A , it says the modifier modifies the nearest noun empire and hence it is wrong.
"Placement of the modifier fashioned...suggests that the Empire (the closest noun) not the images of the
deities , was fashioned out of these materials.

I do agree there is an issue with parallelism in A though.

Usually if you have a independent clause and then a modifier, it modifies the subject of the independent clause.

I agree with the OG answer but I am not convinced with its explanation for A.
For those who are attempting the question - OA is E.

[crackinggmat]

fashioned is past participle modifier ,.....
and past participle modifiers are supposed to modify the noun immediately preceeding them.....
in A fashioned is right next to kushan empire......but it is not supposed to modify kushan empire rather it should modify " many of the earliest known images".....

hence A is incorrect.

hope this helps.

[paes]

I discussed the similar issue and this problem 2-3 days back only :

https://www.beatthegmat.com/concept-of-r ... 62425.html

[gmatmachoman]

fashioned is past participle modifier ,.....
and past participle modifiers are supposed to modify the noun immediately preceeding them.....
in A fashioned is right next to kushan empire......but it is not supposed to modify kushan empire rather it should modify " many of the earliest known images".....

hence A is incorrect.

hope this helps.

Adding to the discussion A has parallelsim error.

either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan
grey schist. ---- Either from X or from Y
is the recommended form.