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[f2001290]

Not since Galileo suffered the “scurvy humor” of the Inquisition has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue a theory.
(A) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(B) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(C) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(D) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(E) has a religious organization so effectively curbed whether a major scientist had the ability that he could be pursuing

Not until the Enlightenment, some 200 years ago, had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute its citizens.
(A) had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
(B) did society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
(C) had society seriously questioned the right of the state for the executing of
(D) did society seriously question the right of the state to execute
(E) had society seriously questioned whether the state had a right that it could execute

I have put them together as these are closeley related questions.
Please provide explanations along with your choices

[jayhawk2001]

Not since Galileo suffered the “scurvy humor” of the Inquisition has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue a theory.
(A) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(B) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(C) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(D) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(E) has a religious organization so effectively curbed whether a major scientist had the ability that he could be pursuing

We need "has" as we are talking about something that started in the
past and continues into the present i.e. "not since ... has". So rule out
B and D

A has "curbed ... that he could pursue" -- awkward

E has "whether" which is incorrectly used here.

Vote for C

Not until the Enlightenment, some 200 years ago, had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute its citizens.
(A) had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
(B) did society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
(C) had society seriously questioned the right of the state for the executing of
(D) did society seriously question the right of the state to execute
(E) had society seriously questioned whether the state had a right that it could execute

I have put them together as these are closeley related questions.
Please provide explanations along with your choices

"did" is preferred over "had" here since the questioning happened after the enlightenment. Rule out A, C and E.

B has "did ... questioned" which is incorrect.

Vote for D.

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Not since Galileo suffered the "scurvy humor" of the Inquisition has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue a theory.
(A) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(B) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue
(C) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(D) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(E) has a religious organization so effectively curbed whether a major scientist had the ability that he could be pursuing


Honestly speaking I could not understand the sentence at all and that is why could mark any of the options....
Could any of the experts please help me in this question....

[avik.ch]

Honestly speaking I could not understand the sentence at all and that is why could mark any of the options....
Could any of the experts please help me in this question....

Because of the word "since", we have to use present perfect - "has ... curbed"

left with A, C and E.

"ability to" is the correct idiom - left with C

Hope this helps !!