* past participal issue

by **sandipbhattacharya** Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:38 pm

A huge flying reptile that died out with the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, the Quetzalcoatlus had a wingspan of 36 feet, believed to be the largest flying creature the world has ever seen.
(A) believed to be
(B) and that is believed to be
(C) and it is believed to have been
(D) which was, it is believed,
(E) which is believed to be

Underline " believed to be "

I choose A thinking that "believed " is a past participal which is modifying the Quetzalcoatlus. Is that correct ?

Thanks,
Sandip :roll:

by RA Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:21 pm

I believe the correct answer is C. Please confirm.

by **abhishek** Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:12 pm

Yeah, I also think it is C. present perfect because its a statement which is continues to be true. D & E are incorrect because with which they seem to refer to 36 feet. similarly A and B seem to refer to the wingspan of 36 feet. C looks best

What is the correct answer ?

by **Guest** Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:14 pm

why do you need AND ?

by **abhishek** Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:49 am

Inversing the statement to make is clearer -

The Q, a huge...years ago, had a wingspan of 36 feet and it is believed to have been the largest ...seen.

There are two clauses that need to be joined by a AND in this case. If And is not supplied it would be incorrect unless something else takes its place. A semicolon would help in that case. The Q had a wingspan of 36 feet; it is beloeved to have been the largest ...seen.

by **esledge** Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:54 pm

Please cite the source (author) of this problem. We cannot reply unless a source is cited (and, if no source is cited, we will have to delete the post!). Thanks.