The first United States Silicitor General...

[nehag84]

The first United States Solicitor General, Benjamin H. Bristow, born in 1832 and served in the Grant administration from 1874 to 1876. Earlier in his life, Bristow had served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Kentucky Infantry.

A) born in 1832 and served in the Grant administration from 1874 to 1876. Earlier in his life, Bristow had served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Kentucky Infantry

B) was born in 1832 and had served in the Grant administration from 1874 to 1876. Earlier in his life, Bristow served as a lieutenant colonel

C) born in 1832 and appointee in the Grant administration from 1874 to 1875. Earlier in his life, Bristow served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Kentucky Infantry

D) was born in 1832 and served in the Grand administration from 1874 to 1876. Earlier in his life, Bristow had served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Kentucky Infantry

E) was born in 1832 and served in the Grand administration from 1874 to 1876. Earlier in his life, Bristow served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Kentucky Infantry

OA is E.

But shouldn't the answer be "D" as "had served" in the past perfect tense in D suits the sentence better than just "served" in E (given the different times).

Source: platinum.gmat.com (somebody recommended this site in one of these forums)

[nehag84]

Would greatly appreciate if one of the instructors can respond.....thanks...

[selva.e]

Hi nehag84 ,

Past perfect tense is not appropriate here...

if you closely watch the sentence the author is talking about the Benjamin H. Bestow in the past tense.

Bestow was born....
Bristow served as a .....

Here author is describing about subject (Benjamin H. Bestow). not the subject itself doing the event. so no chance of past perfect

[RonPurewal]

wow, this is a HORRIBLE problem.

first of all, every single one of the choices takes the form of TWO sentences, a pattern that NEVER EVER occurs on the test. (ALL sentence correction problems, and ALL answer choices, are single sentences.)

also, the whole writing of this sentence is ridiculous. the first part starts off with the guy's BIRTH, and then the second part says "earlier in his life...". this is of course absurd, since it's impossible to go earlier in life than someone's birth.

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run away from this source as fast as you can. and don't look back