1000 SC 331

[iwill]

Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War, Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left.

(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(C) Because there had been a sniper’s bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War

Official Answer: E

[codesnooker]

Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War, Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left.

(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(C) Because there had been a sniper’s bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper’s bullet during the First World War

Official Answer: E

Ok this also very simple. Remember "being" is 99% considered as wordy and awkward in the GMAT. There are exceptions, but one need to find those exceptions. So, ignoring exceptions, you can rule out choices (A), (B) and (D).

Between choice (C) and (E), in choice (C) there are two reasons to not to select this choice.

1. Wordy as compare to (E).
2. The usage of had been states that the bullet keep on crippling his arm for some times in past. However, in reality the bullet had just crippled his arm once.