SC: Idiom

[psm12se]

Thomas Eakins' powerful style and his choices of subject-the advances in modern surgery, the
discipline of sport, the strains of individuals in tension with society or even with themselves-was as disturbing to his own time as it is compelling for ours.

(A) was as disturbing to his own time as it is
(B) were as disturbing to his own time as they are
(C) has been as disturbing in his own time as they are
(D) had been as disturbing in his own time as it was
(E) have been as disturbing in his own time as

I chose E because of the idiom " as X as Y "

Need comments on this

[AnjaliOberoi]

IMO B

was as disturbing to his own time as it is

Was is going to Thomas Eakins' powerful style and his choices of subject, which is plural....so was, has are incorrect. Hence A and C are out.
D -- Past perfect, wrong usage
E -- Have beeen is going to his time, hence past tense should be used

So B

What's the OA?

[ershovici]

I choose B:

A - 'was' is incorrect, since the subject is plural
C - incorrect for the same reason
D - at the end there is 'as it was', again single instead of plural
E - not exactly clear at the end - ' have been as disturbing as .... compelling' I feel the need for another verb here
B - is correct, it uses correct plural verb at the beginning, and fixes the issue with lack of verb is answer E.

So B

[psm12se]

OA is indeed B