SC2

[tar.goyal]

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.

(A) to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,
(B) begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment
(C) begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago
(D) at ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,
(E) that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

Y the answer is A?

[VP_Jim]

The easiest thing to think about here is the idiom "attempt to" - only choices A and E use the proper idiom (and I'm stretching to even say that E uses the proper idiom since the "attempt" and the "to" are so far apart in the sentence).

Between A and E, we want to use the past tense "begun" to show that the attempt started sometime in the past (decades ago). Answer choice E uses the a present tense verb (present perfect, actually) "has begun."

Hope this helps!

[netigen]

'begun' in B and C is wrong it should be simple past 'began'
In D "attempt at ratifying" is unidiomatic
E Present perfect for attempt is wrong